Seems that all is not well in the Irish Republic's world cup camp. From BBC Sport:

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has played down Roy Keane's threat to quit the Republic of Ireland squad. The Manchester United midfielder was back in training on Wednesday, having initially walked out on the squad following an alleged row with goalkeeping coach Pat Bonner. Keane was reportedly angry because the Republic's three goalkeepers - Shay Given, Dean Kiely and Alan Kelly - did not take part in five-a-side practice matches. There is some suggestion this is all to do with a bust-up at training, but that is way off the mark The captain was planning to leave Japan and McCarthy was forced to call up Celtic midfielder Colin Healy on stand-by. But Keane's dramatic U-turn forced McCarthy to call the youngster back and tell him he was not needed after all. "Roy Keane has had a change of heart and I am delighted," said McCarthy. He added: "He should be playing in the World Cup because he is one of the best players in the world." But McCarthy denied the situation had anything to do with an apparent bust-up with Bonner. Bonner had worked the keepers for 40 minutes before the rest of the World Cup squad arrived and decided to rest them - much to the consternation of the squad captain. Aggrieved that outfield players had to stand in goal and try to save the ball with their feet, Keane was reported to have clashed with coach Ian Evans, Bonner and Kelly before he was calmed by McCarthy. "There is some suggestion this is all to do with a bust-up at training, but that is way off the mark," said McCarthy. "There were suggestions he had a scuffle in training, and I wasn't even aware of that. Packie (Bonner) has bigger arguments with his lad over his homework. Republic manager Mick McCarthy admitted there had been an argument "I asked him if it was that, or anything else, but he assured me it was personal. "I spoke to him after training yesterday and he had concerns over his injuries - his knee. "He was going to go home after training on Tuesday. "He said to me it was personal reasons. I don't know what they were because he didn't give them to me. "He'd made his mind up and nothing I said was going to change it. "We had a number of discussions, but then he spoke to other people back at home and that resolved whatever problems there were. "I know he is worried about his knee, he has treatment on it all the time. That is an ongoing thing and it will be." McCarthy confirmed that he rang Healy, but that he had to shatter the youngster's dreams hours later by telling him Keane had changed his mind.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Answers

APto Notre Dame for the thread title!

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

just cos the Dutch aren't there to make idiots of themselves

World Cup would be poorer without 'one of the best players inthe world' Roy Keane being there mmmmmm not convinced

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Yep. The words "Roy Keane", "start" and "fight in an empty house" spring effortlessly to mind!

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

I'm happy to see all is not well with the Irish "camp", to rekindle the old and almost accepted as gospel rumour about Roy Keane's sexuality, Roy Keane may have his eye on one of the 3 keepers, I don't suppose our Shay could turn the other way.

No-one would sugest Keane's just trying to get out of being embarassed on the big stage, after all he is one of the greatest midfielders in th e world.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

What! is Roy Keene a bandit? Not comming out of the cupboard could explain all of the aggression I suppose.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

I watched our 4-3 victory over manure last night and watched carefully as keane blew a fuse at shearer, who at the time had a smile on his face. Keane may be a great footballer but he is a thug at heart.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

I usually make allowances of my usual dislike for him when he pulls on the Irish shirt, but this....the words I have for him now aren't fit for publication. Who does he think he is trying to dictate training? It would do all the players well to learn to stop the ball on the line in case Shay(or any other keeper) decides to take a stroll too far up the pitch...a very realistic scenario! McCarthy should have packed Keane's sorry @rse onto the next flight home. :-/

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Undeniably a thug but a terrific player. Bit difficult to make much sense of the story without knowing the exact circumstances. Might be that Keane had been trying to make a point about team togetherness and felt that by taking the goalies out of team training that was been damaged? It`s certainly true that playing in goal in a 5-a-side is of absolutely no value to an outfield player at that level. Doesn`t help fitness & doesn`t help you build an understanding with your team mates. In fact it`s an all-round waste of time, which may well have been the cause of his dummy-spit. As Sydney clique will confirm, I`ve been known to get annoyed when it`s my turn to go in goal as well....

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

I can't understand why Keane didn't want to be in goal - doesn't it give him the chance to punch things legally?

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

For someone who is a supposed role model and leader of two teams, Roy Keane is amazingly immature.

If I didn't know I would think he was French.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002