Robbie Keane wants to let bygones be bygones.
In the coming three days you’re going to read, hear and see an awful lot of discussion about the Republic of Ireland seeking vengeance for Thierry Henry’s handball in 2009.
The handling of the ball in the run-up to William Gallas’ decisive goal is what ultimately denied Ireland a place at the 2010 World Cup and the countries haven’t met since.
That will all change on Sunday when tournament favourites France take on Martin O’Neill’s men in the last 16 of the European Championships and many see the game as a revenge-mission for Ireland.
But captain Robbie Keane has played down the significance of that, urging supporters to “move on!”
“Yeah I was there. I will not think about that for one second,” Keane said, in quotes appearing in the Irish Examiner. “How long ago was it? Seven years. Fucking hell, move on!
“This is why we play the game. We’re playing against another good team, but we knew that if we were going to get out of the group, we were going to play top teams and we’re playing the hosts.
“Wouldn’t it be great in the home country to knock them out?”
Keane could only sit and watch as Robbie Brady earned a late victory for Ireland in Lille, securing a place in the last 16 of the tournament, but his lack of involvement did nothing to hinder the 35-year-old’s passion about the result.
He continued: “It’s a special moment for the country and for the players, and certainly for Robbie Brady, who came up with a magnificent goal.
“It was something that we deserved. We deserved to win the game. We were the better team throughout the whole game.
“When you’re a playing a good team like that, they are going to get the odd chance here and there. In the second half, they hit the post but apart from that, they didn’t do too much.
“We defended well. We got in their faces and we made it hard for them and we got our rewards in the end.”
