Robbie Keane hails Henry threat

Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane would pay good money to watch Thierry Henry but is hoping not to be left short-changed by France’s FIFA World Player of the Year contender on Saturday.

Henry has been caught up in a storm following allegedly racist comments made by Spain coach Luis Aragones about the Arsenal striker, when he is reported to have told Jose Antonio Reyes in crude terms that he is superior to his Highbury team-mate.

But few would side with Aragones in that argument, given Henry’s goals and performance levels over recent seasons.

Keane is certainly a big Henry fan and will get a closer look at a player he admires, respects, and to some extent models himself upon, when Ireland face France in Paris this weekend.

The Group Four World Cup qualifier has already become a crunch clash with Switzerland, Ireland, France and Israel all tied on four points at the top after two rounds of matches.

Points won or lost on Saturday could prove crucial come the end of a campaign which Brian Kerr’s side have started well following a home victory over Cyprus and an away draw in Switzerland.

But France present a different proposition altogether, even if they are going through a transitional period under new coach Raymond Domenech and after the retirement of several key players in the summer following their Euro 2004 failure.

For Spurs forward Keane, though, there is no-one finer than Henry – regardless of what Aragones may think.

“When he first came to England a lot of people were giving him stick because he wasn’t playing particularly well, but he’s certainly shut a few people up since,” said Keane.

“He has done absolutely brilliantly, and you can only admire what he has done. He is a fantastic player. For a striker, he is just a pleasure to watch.

“As a striker myself, I look at the way others play, but Henry is one I would pay money to watch because he is so exciting what with his pace and his finishing, which is second to none.”

Keane will be hoping to get one over on Henry at the Stade de France by stealing the limelight and in so doing cementing his place in Republic folklore.

His penalty in the 3-0 win over Cyprus last month saw him equal Niall Quinn’s 21-goal Republic record, and now the aim is to go one better than his former strike partner.

“Of course the record would make me proud,” insisted Keane.

“To score goals for my country is great, but to beat the record would be magnificent. It would be a great feeling for me.

“But the most important thing is the result. Regardless of whether I score, it doesn’t really matter. It’s about the team.

“It would be nice if I did break the record against France – then everyone wouldn’t be asking me questions all the time! I just hope to do it soon.”

If Keane had been hoping for an insight into the French preparations ahead of the game, then he was to be disappointed as his new Tottenham manager Jacques Santini refused to spill the beans.

Santini led France to the Euro 2004 finals with an unblemished record, but on the eve of the first game announced he would quit at the tournament’s conclusion, with White Hart Lane his surprise choice of destination.

Santini is remaining loyal to France, as Keane added: “He spoke to us after the game against Everton at the weekend and wished all the international players good luck – except the Irish!

“He said he would go and watch the game, but he didn’t say too much about it. I don’t think he wanted to give too much away.”

Even Santini might be surprised at the likely make-up of the French side, which will lack a host of star names, those such as Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Zinedine Zidane and Bixente Lizarazu, stalwarts who quit international football over the summer.

It will require a strong performance against Ireland to convince the French people that Domenech is the man to guide them to the 2006 finals in Germany.

A goalless home draw with Israel in qualifying was followed just a few days later by an unconvincing 2-0 victory in the Faroe Islands, but Keane has not been fooled.

“Their recent form has not been that convincing, but at the end of the day football can change and we are not going to take them for granted,” maintained Keane.

“The players they still have can change a game in a matter of seconds, so we know it’s going to be tough.

“But we’ve built up confidence in the last few games, so I don’t see any reason why we can’t get a result.”

Kerr has virtually a full squad to choose from, with the exception of defender Richard Dunne who today returned to Manchester City to undergo intensive treatment on a calf injury.