Maverick Keane not ready to share in Quinn’s handball anguish

Nov 21 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

The Sunderland chairman’s evocative response was not repeated in Ipswich where Keane insisted his countrymen should stop whining about a replay and take a look at the other reasons why they have failed to qualify. He said: “I think the supporters deserve better, the manager (Giovanni Trapattoni) deserves better and probably most of the players deserve better, but I’m not sure the FAI deserve better. What goes around comes around.

“Ireland had their chances in the two games (against France), and they never took them. But it’s the usual FAI reaction - ‘we’ve been robbed, the honesty of the game...’ There was one match against Georgia where Ireland got a penalty and it was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen which changed the whole course of the game. I don’t remember the FAI after the game saying we should give them a replay.”

Talking specifically about France’s winner, Keane laid the blame on Ireland’s defence and former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given rather than Henry, who handled the ball before crossing for William Gallas to head in. “I’d focus on why they didn’t clear it,” he said. “I’d be more annoyed with my defenders and my goalkeeper than Thierry Henry.

“How can you let the ball bounce in your six-yard box? If I was the manager, I wouldn’t even have mentioned the handball in the dressing room.

“How can you let Thierry Henry get goalside of you? If the ball goes into the six-yard box, where the hell is my goalkeeper? They can complain all they want, ex-players can complain and earn a few bob for their interviews, but France are going to the World Cup and Ireland aren’t. Get over it.”

Quinn, though, is hoping the Black Cats can lift his mood when they take on another of his former clubs Arsenal at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

He said: “In a way, it’s games like these which make me wish I was still playing, although given the speed of the Arsenal players and the pace at which they play the game I’d be like a fish out of water.”