We can win the group, insists Keane
The Tottenham striker’s late strike in Bari has left the Republic just two points behind the Azzurri with both teams having played six games although Italy’s goal difference is three superior.
“Of course we can,” said Keane when asked if Ireland could still usurp the world champions in the final reckoning. “We are still hanging in there. We still have Italy to play at home and we still have some tough games away as well, but Italy do as well. It is still hanging in the balance.”
The jury remains out on this Irish team despite Wednesday’s point. Disappointing at home to Bulgaria last weekend, the Italy game was distorted by the early dismissal of Giampolo Pazzini and Italy’s retreat into their shell after Vincenzo Iaquinta’s goal.
Sofia in June should offer a clearer picture of where Giovanni Trapattoni’s side stands even if Keane was quick to point out that this latest draw should not be discarded as a form guide because of the Italians’ reduction to 10 men.
“It’s sometimes harder when you play against 10 men. As we all know over the years, that has been the case. Even though we had a lot of possession, they defended well. You have got to give them credit for that but we got the rewards we deserved in the end.”
It took 77 minutes, and a good deal of tinkering by Trapattoni, before Keane cancelled out that opening goal and earned the visitors their just desserts. Indeed, the Italian boss had emptied the Irish bench with little over an hour played.
All three switches generated debate. Most discussed was the first, Trapattoni’s decision to call Andy Keogh ashore after 22 minutes, replace the right midfielder with the tall Caleb Folan up front and instruct Keane to move back into the hole behind the front two.
Folan played his part in the equaliser, causing enough confusion in the Italian area for Shay Given’s long punt to drop into Keane’s path and then the net. It was quite a night for a man who has been only a bit part player for Hull City this season.
“I was a bit surprised to come on so early,” he admitted. “I was hoping to get a run out over the two games and thankfully it was a big one like this. All you can do is come on and try and make an impact. It’s great to come to Italy and get involved.
“We want to finish as high as possible, get something here, and go on from there. This is a tough group but we’ve come to the world champions and got a result. We could maybe have won the game. That shows how good we are.”
It can’t have been easy for Keogh to look towards the far touchline after just 22 minutes and see his number flash red on the fourth official’s board but the Wolves man seemed to accept the reasons for his premature retirement, outwardly at least.
“The gaffer has told me he has made a tactical decision. They had a man sent off and he wanted to drop Robbie into the hole and put Caleb on for his extra height and it’s worked well in the end.
“It’s disappointing coming off but I know what the manager wanted. I wasn’t on the pitch when we scored but we had the majority of possession. Italy were dropping deep and we needed some extra height. Caleb gave us that and it worked for us.
“In the second half, Darron Gibson came on to bring on more forward-thinking passers. The gaffer showed his tactics there and we’re still going well and looking forward to the rest of the group.”
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