Soccer: McCarthy plays down the loss of captain Keane

Matt Holland will be handed the mountainous task of again stepping into the boots of Roy Keane when the Republic of Ireland land in Tallin today for their must-win World Cup assignment against Estonia.

Defiant Republic manager Mick McCarthy is fighting to keep panic spreading among Ireland's green army of fans at the latest loss of their talismanic midfield leader after Keane's second booking of the Group Two campaign in Saturday's 1-1 draw here with Portugal.