Keane is ''irreplaceable'' - Voeller

Germany coach Rudi Voeller believes the Republic of Ireland have suffered a massive blow to their World Cup hopes following the axing of captain Roy Keane.

‘‘It is an enormous weakening of the Irish team because Keane is the head of the team and he is irreplaceable,’’ said Voeller.

The two teams meet in a Group E clash in Ibaraki on June 5, and Voeller sees Keane’s departure as a boost to Germany’s hopes of qualifying for the second stage.

Voeller said: ‘‘I don’t know what happened exactly between Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane, so I am not in a position to judge if it was right or wrong to send him home."