Veteran striker Keane determined to savour finals experience

Robbie Keane says his status as one of the veterans of the Irish team means he’s relishing playing in the European Championship finals all the more.

“When you are 21 years of age, you think you have got 20 years left in you,” said Ireland’s skipper. “But now you are coming towards the end and you are not too sure how many tournaments you have left in you.”

Keane admitted that, following Ireland’s controversial failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, watching the tournament was: “A pain in the arse, to be honest with you, especially having gone so close. This is why you play football, to play in these big competitions.”