Roy Keane doesn’t want to talk about his playing days.
He had to remind the media in Versailles on Monday that he retired 10 years ago. “It’s irrelevant,” he said. But not entirely.
If anybody knows about what it takes to be a footballer, Roy Keane knows better. If anyone knows anything about courage or bravery, the Ireland assistant manager is better-placed and, in the wake of all the criticism that has been levelled directly at the Republic squad for a meek display against Belgium, Keane has his own thoughts.
The Cork man talked about punishment and enjoying it. It was as if he almost felt some kind of satisfaction after the 3-0 drubbing if for nothing else but the laws of physics, the balance of the universe and the mathematics of football had been upheld.
Keane on Ireland's performance against Belgium – "I enjoy that in sport, if you're not at your best you get punished."
— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) June 20, 2016
He spoke about cynical fouling, the experience of the wilier Italians who’d have no problem hauling an opposition man over, and the difference between the players and the fans on wanting to be liked.
Keane on tactical fouls – "My advice would probably be, 'Yeah, take him out'. You've got to be streetwise. We're not here to make friends."
— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) June 20, 2016
James McCarthy was on the agenda. Keane’s response was brief.
"Footballers make mistakes. Every footballer makes mistakes." – Roy Keane
— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) June 20, 2016
But he also talked about football. Playing football. Taking the ball and having the courage and conviction to make something happen with it.
He spoke about not hiding in games and, amidst the disappointment of Saturday in Bordeaux when very few Irish players looked bothered or brave enough to put their necks on the line, Roy Keane addressed the problems of a nation and the culture of players who are reluctant to go looking for the ball.
“At international level, you actually get time on the ball. It’s not like a Premiership game or a Championship match. You do get time on the ball and then it’s your decision-making, it’s your first and second touch,” the midfield legend said.
“A lot of great managers used to say, ‘the time to judge a player is when he has time on the ball.’ You see then how long it takes from his first and his second touch. It’s an area we have to improve on – I’m going back the last 20, 30, 40 years – Irish players have got to deal with the ball at the highest level.
“It’s an area we have to improve on. It’s highly unlikely that we’re going to do that in the next 48 hours. In terms of the big picture, going forward, in the underage teams, you have to have lads who can put their foot on the ball and show a bit of composure and courage – want the ball.”
Ireland take on Italy at 8pm (Irish time) on Wednesday night in what is a must-win clash.
Keane was asked on Monday about preparing for teams who are better than you. It was the only time The Stare was produced.
"You're not in a mindset that they're better than you… that's a start" pic.twitter.com/PKRfxfopSb
— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) June 20, 2016
If Ireland play like they did at the weekend though, that mindset would be classed more as a fact.
But it can change with courage. It can change with wanting the ball.
“I’m not talking about our players but sometimes you get players who show for it but they’re not really showing for it,” he said. “You want to see the whites of their eyes. You have to want the ball, that’s where courage comes into it.
“Courage is a big part of being a footballer. Courage doesn’t mean booting somebody. It’s wanting the ball when you don’t actually want the ball, if that makes sense.
“Bravery. Courage. We need to see that in the next two days.”
"We need players with courage. And balls."
And, with that, Roy Keane leaves the press conference.— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) June 20, 2016
