Robbie still Keane on Irish chances

Robbie Keane is relishing the underdog’s role as Ireland look to achieve an unlikely place at next year’s World Cup at the expense of France. The Irish have never beaten a major side in a game of such importance on foreign soil but will have to do just that in Paris tomorrow night if they are to reach next summer’s finals in South Africa. It looked a tall order before Nicolas Anelka handed the French a 1-0 win in the first leg of their play-off at Croke Park on Saturday evening, and few observers now give the Republic a realistic chance at the Stade de France tomorrow evening. However, Keane insists Ireland are perhaps at their best when presented with the opportunity to defy the odds and is confident there is a twist yet to come: “Over the years, it suits us probably better because, when we come up against better teams or bigger nations than we are, we always seem to do better against them. We usually struggle when we are the favourites, so hopefully that will be the case tomorrow night. We are professionals, we want to win every game. We play football to win and it doesn’t really matter what anyone else says outside. You have seen over the years the favourites and there are always upsets, and I certainly believe there is definitely a twist in this game and by no means is this game over, there’s no question about that.” A 1-0 victory for the visitors would take the tie to extra-time and perhaps penalties but Keane believes that they should aim even higher: “I think we can turn it around – we have to believe we can turn it around. I have said in the last few days, believe is a massive word and I think everyone in the squad believes that we can win this game. By no means are we going into this game tomorrow thinking we are going to go to penalties. We are going to win the game. Hopefully we will do it in the 90 minutes and, if we don’t do it in the 90 minutes, then of course we would take penalties – and, if that was the case, hopefully we would win them.”