We're more supportive than the England team: Keane

Robbie Keane, in an effort to make it to the football friendlies set to take place on 29th May 2013 between the Republic of Ireland and England, took a flight back from Los Angeles to Wembley and arrived a day before the game. He had just scored a hat trick for his Major League soccer club- Los Angeles Galaxy and instead of unwinding he opted to jet set back to Ireland.

In a different scenario, Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand created a furore when he withdrew from the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifier match against San Marino, citing spine problems as a reason, only to pop up on TV in Qatar as a pundit for the match.

Couple of weeks before that , the United football player had retired from international football and signed a new one-year contract extension at Old Trafford.

When asked about this ambiguous loyalty characteristic to the English superstars, Keane had this to say: “England are pretty much guaranteed to qualify for most international tournaments. They are used to playing in big games. For us, it comes about every 10 years. Most of them are used to playing at Wembley in finals and in big Champions League games, World Cups and European Championships, so it probably does mean more for us. It’s very simple — I want to play for my country more than anything. It still means as much to me now as when I made my debut at 18 years of age. It has never changed. I can’t understand players who don’t want to play for their country. I’ve not missed many games unless I’m genuinely injured. Some players would prefer not to meet up with the national team — I find that hard to believe.”

Even though Keane’s decision has cost him two MLS and one US Cup game for Galaxy, he will be earning his 124^th cap for Ireland, which is one shy of the record holder Shay Given.