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Roy Keane confident that Republic of Ireland can improve Euro Championship record

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane during a press conference at the Stade de Montbauron 
Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane during a press conference at the Stade de Montbauron  Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane during a press conference at the Stade de Montbauron 

THE stats don’t make pleasant reading. The Republic of Ireland have made the European Championships twice – played six, won one, drew one and lost the rest. Only three goals have been scored – Ray Houghton and Ronnie Whelan (both 1988) and Sean St Ledger got the only goal four years ago.

So there’s plenty of room for improvement and assistant-manager Roy Keane is fiercely determined that the Republic will do just that, starting with Sweden on Monday night and continuing against Belgium and Italy.

“I don’t think as a group we’re thinking that Sweden is going to be more winnable than any of the others; far from it,” said Keane.

“You have to have belief but it’s easier said than done. I think if you look at Ireland in the European Championships; it’s six games we’ve played in the European Championship and it’s one win, one draw and four defeats; three goals scored and 11 conceded so we know it’s going to be tough.

“But we believe that if we perform as well as we can then we have a pretty good chance of getting a result against Sweden but our intention is not to focus on the other games or on beating Sweden.

“I think that was the mistake with Ireland in the last campaign when people seemed to think we were almost guaranteed to win the first game (against Croatia) and that we’d nick a point (against Spain or Italy) but you can’t think that way.

“And we also know that if we’re not quite at it there’s every chance we’re going to get beaten.”

The news that Robbie Keane and Jon Walters are both fit after struggling with injuries over the last week means the Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has a full squad to pick from.

“I think certain players have done enough in the last week to give the manager a headache and that’s their job,” he said.

“We have good options, particularly with Jon and Robbie coming through after having had injuries.

“You speak to any of the players and what you see is their desire and passion to do well for the country.

“Obviously we need quality; we need somebody to produce a little bit of magic like we saw the other night (from France goalscorer Dimitri Payet).

“It’s about going out there and doing it on Monday.

“People say that we’re in a very tough group; we know that. But the other teams will know they’ve been in a tough group against Ireland and that’s what we want.

“They’re vastly experienced, big and physically strong teams. They know their jobs, they’re well drilled. They have players with lots of caps.

“Sweden are strong, as a lot of the Scandinavian teams are and set pieces will play a big part in it, but they’re a good team.”

The Ireland players have been together for more than two weeks now and Keane says they are chomping at the bit for their first game.

“I always think you get feedback from the players in these situations but if they train one or two days before the match, if they cross that line, then they’re fit, simple as that,” he said.

“I think we have to worry about the game on Monday then worry about the other games afterwards.

“We’ve had the opening game now (France v Romania) and there’s a decent buzz amongst the squad.

“After two or three days together now, we’re ready for the game. Training is all well and good, possession, crossing and finishing, 10 v 10s and nine v nines, 10 v eight… Whatever it might be, you can’t beat the real thing.”