Unbeaten run breeds confidence in squad, says Keane

Robbie Keane has stressed the importance of maintaining Ireland’s unbeaten run ahead of the European Championships after a week when two of the Republic’s group opponents suffered defeats.

All four Group C sides were in action on Wednesday with Italy and Croatia losing home ties to the USA and Sweden respectively, Ireland grabbing a late draw against the Czech Republic and Spain putting five past Venezuela.

Simon Cox’s 86th-minute equaliser brought to 12 the number of games in which Ireland have refused to be beaten and also builds on a hugely impressive record in pre-tournament warm-ups stretching back to the Euros in 1988. Ireland’s record in these admittedly bloodless affairs now shows 12 wins, half a dozen draws and only two defeats, the first of which was against the Czechs back in 1994 and less than a fortnight before the defeat of Italy in Giants Stadium.