Robbie Keane must score in Moscow tonight in the Republic's opening Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia to claim a special place in Irish football history. The Spurs striker will become the first Irish player ever to score in five consecutive internationals if he hits the target tonight.
The 22-year-old striker has scored in Ireland's last four games, kicking off with his dramatic last-gasp equaliser against Germany in the World Cup finals. He followed up with goals against Saudi Arabia and Spain, then continued his scoring streak in the friendly against Finland last month, taking his tally to 14 goals in 38 games, seven of which have come this year.
Keane's goalscoring exploits have put him level with Fionan Fagan, who scored in four successive games for Ireland in 1960, but another goal in the Lokomotiv Stadium will set Keane out on his own.
"Robbie's a first class player," said manager Mick McCarthy. "He's somebody on which we rely very heavily upon. We've put a lot on his young shoulders and he repaid us brilliantly in the World Cup finals. Robbie's never doing anything other than playing well for us. He's had his moves, and he's had one or two injuries, and other people have suggested that perhaps he was having a dip in form."
"But he's always played well for us. His form during the World Cup where he was training every day, playing regularly, was outstanding. He's looked sharp again in training this week, even though he got the yellow jersey once, which might have been down to ring-rustiness, but that doesn't happen too often I can tell you."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
