Roy Keane gave 'best ever performance' before explosive foul-mouthed rant
Ireland take on the Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying this weekend, and they may feel the need to channel one of the national side's most memorable performances of the 21st century.
After just one win from four games, Stephen Kenny's side find their qualification hopes hanging by a thread. Their most recent fixture, away to France, ended in a 2-0 defeat with Aurelien Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram on target.
The Netherlands are tough opponents, but that was also the case during their last competitive meeting, a qualifier for the 2002 World Cup. On that occasion, it was the Boys in Green who came out on top - thanks in no small part to the performance of captain Roy Keane, but joy would turn to pain just months later for the Man Utd man.
The qualifying draw was a tough one for both teams. Portugal were also in their group - the Portugal of Rui Costa and Figo, and only one automatic qualifying place was at stake.
Whoever finished second would earn themselves a two-legged play-off for a spot at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, but the team in third would play no part whatsoever.
Roy Keane leaves Sky Sports pundits in stitches with cheeky Erik ten Hag request
Ireland travelled to Amsterdam in their first fixture, throwing a way a 2-0 lead to only draw with the Oranje. It looked like it could end up costing Mick McCarthy's men, but an unbeaten run meant their fate remained in their hands for the return fixture at Lansdowne Road in September 2001.
Was the Holland game Roy Keane's best ever? Have your say in the comments section
Roy Keane came up huge for Ireland in 2001 (Lorraine O'Sullivan/INPHO via Getty Images)Looking back at the starting line-ups from that game, there was a clear favourite. This wasn't a weak Ireland vintage, not by any stretch, but the Dutch had made the World Cup semi-finals four years prior and had many of the same players.
Edwin van der Sar was still their first choice goalkeeper, with Jaap Stam and Patrick Kluivert also starting to retain the spine of that 1998 side. There were some talented newer additions as well, with Ruud van Nistelrooy partnering Kluivert up top and Mark van Bommel took his place in Louis van Gaal's midfield.
Thanks in no small part to Keane, McCarthy's side went in level at the break. However, they had to dig even deeper after going a man down.
Keane considers the performance to be one of his best (Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Jason McAteer scored Ireland's crucial winner (Jamie McDonald /Allsport)"A few of my Ireland performances were good," Keane told former Man Utd team-mate on the Overlap when asked, years later, about the best displays of his career. "Maybe against Holland or Portugal in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup or against Italy at the 1994 World Cup."
When Gary Kelly was sent off just before the hour mark, Ireland needed everyone to pull their weight. That they were able to owes a lot to the skipper, who led by example.
It was a real rearguard action, with a point still potentially enough, but the 10 men stunned their opponents by going in front through Jason McAteer with just over 20 minutes remaining. Keane rallied his side and helped them hold firm, setting up an eventual play-off with Iran.
That was also won, 2-1 on aggregate, and Ireland were off to the Far East. It was then, though, that the wheels started to come off.
Keane was sent home from Ireland's squad after a row with Mick McCarthy (PA)The problems started when Ireland arrived in Saipan, which was to be their base ahead of games against Germany, Cameroon and Saudi Arabia. McCarthy had insisted on strict media rules for his team, but Keane's decision to speak to the Irish Times certainly went against that.
Keane gives verdict on Man Utd's complaints - "Don't fall for that nonsense"
"It's different if we came here to a top training facility," he said. "The hotel is fine, but we've come here to work. You wonder why players get injured? Well, playing on a surface like that.
"I can't imagine any other country, countries in the world who are far worse off than us, playing on something like that. I don't think it's too much to ask, just for a pitch that's even watered. It's so dangerous. It's rock hard.
"One or two of the lads have picked up injuries. I'm amazed there hasn't been more but give it time. But you know, we're the Irish team, it's a laugh and a joke. We shouldn't expect too much."
Ireland were eliminated from the 2002 World Cup by Spain (Getty Images)McCarthy, perhaps understandably, wasn't going to just let it slide. Keane, however, is never afraid to double down, and so it proved this time.
“You’re a f***ing w***er," the Man Utd man is said to have told the manager. "I didn’t rate you as a player, I don’t rate you as a manager and I don’t rate you as a person..
"You can stick your World Cup up your a**e. I’ve got no respect for you. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country! You can stick it up your b*****ks.”
Keane was sent home and Ireland carried on without him. They still made a decent fist of the tournament, eventually bowing out against Spain in the round of 16, but McAteer - the man whose goal helped take them there - didn't forget in a hurry.
Keane later returned to international duty, but Ireland failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup (PA)The midfielder, on Sunderland's books at the time, would clash with his international team-mate on a Premier League pitch early in the 2002-03 season. That incident would see Keane sent off, while McAteer gave his own take on the World Cup flashpoint - with the benefit of hindsight - when speaking to RTE in 2016.
"We understood where he came from, what he stood for and what he wanted – we all just felt it was at the wrong time," McAteer said. "There was a time and a place for it and it was after the World Cup.
"Obviously the disappointment and the anger spilled over into the Premier League season. He had been a little unsavoury towards the lads, me included, in his book.
"When we had words on the pitch, I just said to him 'put it in your next book, I'll read about it I'm sure.' That's all that was, but unfortunately, we never kissed and made up – we're still bayonets at thirty paces."
Keane would miss a chunk of that season through injury, but eventually returned to help United secure what would end up being the final Premier League title of his career. He would later don an Ireland shirt again as well, but only after McCarthy's time in charge came to an end.
After the heroics of the 2003 qualifying campaign, Ireland failed to repeat the feat under Brian Kerr. It was another tough group, albeit one where victory over Switzerland in the final game would have been enough, but a goalless draw - without the injured Keane - meant the end of Ireland's hopes and the end of the midfielder's international career.
Keane didn't get the chance to bow out on his own terms, either for club or country, with no World Cup to lay the ghosts of 2002 to rest. Still, it's worth remembering there would have been no blazing row to begin with had he not helped get his team to the tournament.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
