Euro 2012 Players to Watch: Robbie Keane of Republic of Ireland

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: May 21, 2012

commentComment        

The Republic of Ireland's last appearance at a major international tournament was in the 2002 World Cup, when they progressed to the last 16. Spain needed penalties to knock them out. Then, as now, Robbie Keane was pivotal to their hopes of progression.

Keane has had a memorable 10 years since in individual terms, becoming his country's all-time leading scorer (as well as enjoying several years as one of the English Premier League's best forwards). But until last year, qualification for the World Cup or the European Championships had alluded the Irishman.

With the chance to shine once more on one of world football's biggest stages, both Keane and his countrymen will be looking to make up for lost time.

 

Keane in Numbers

Robbie Keane was born in Tallaght, Dublin on 8 July 1980.

As of writing, prior to beginning preparations for Euro 2012, Keane has represented his country on 115 occasions and has scored 53 times.

That is a goal-scoring record comparable with the best at the international level and one that long ago outstripped the previous Irish leading scorer Niall Quinn (21 goals). In addition, only current international teammate Shay Given has played more times than Keane, and he has been playing for Ireland two years longer.

Keane's only appearance at a major international tournament came at the 2002 World Cup, where he scored three times (and once in the penalty shootout loss to Spain). Two of those goals were among the most memorable in Irish football history.



In their Group E match with Germany, Keane ran onto a flick-on by strike partner Quinn to score an equaliser two minutes into stoppage time that proved vital in the Republic's progression into the next stage. It would be the only goal the Germans would concede until the final.

Keane's late heroics continued against Spain in the next round, where a 90th-minute penalty took the gam...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

Latest News


Comments

Comments are closed.

Sponsors

Bruins Tickets The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Red Wings Tickets The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.

Penguins Tickets The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New York Rangers Tickets play their home games at Madison Square Garden, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six.

San Jose Sharks Tickets The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States.

Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New Jersey Devils Tickets The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Washington Capitals Tickets The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.

Buffalo Sabres Tickets The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Get the Sabres and all of your NHL Tickets here.

NASCAR season is on of the most attended sports in the world. NASCAR Tickets to the best tracks is a must every year. Some of these tracks are: Talladega Tickets, Lowes Motor Speedway Tickets, Pocono Raceway Tickets, located in Ridgeway Virginia you have Martinsville Speedway Tickets and southern US you have two of the most popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets and Texas Motor Speedway Tickets. Don't miss all the racing events this year!

Boston Red Sox Tickets The Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since 1912, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. This is one of the hottest MLB Tickets sales of any team in the major league.

New York Yankees Tickets The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get tickets to one of the hottest games of the season Yankees Red Sox Tickets.

Chicago Cubs Tickets The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League.

Phillies Tickets The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.

Orioles Tickets The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Do you love wrestling? Get your WWE Tickets and WWE Survivor Series Tickets today!