Keane outburst a sign that pressure is transforming him into ‘Tournament Roy’

It’s the clearest sign yet that the European Championships are just around the corner.

As Ireland trained in his home county, in blistering sunshine, Roy Keane, the Republic of Ireland No.2, spent half the week threatening to kill the Irish players and half of it apologising.

Perhaps it’s ‘tournament-mode Roy’ we’re witnessing, as the pressure and expectations begin to merge – and reality hits home that he’s about to take part in his first major Finals since 1994.

Even Scotland have been to a tournament since Roy last graced the 1994 World Cup in the USA.

Of course, he could have been with the Irish at South Korea and Japan in 2002.

But again his motormouth tendencies reared its head, with a brutal character assassination of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy that ended with Keane back home walking his Labrador and firmly in the international doghouse.

Still, let’s not go over old quarrels when we have new ones to discuss.

Last Wednesday, the former Celtic midfielder lashed out at the performance of his fringe players in the uninspiring 2-1 defeat to Belarus in Cork.

He reminded them of the basic level of commitment he expects from a professional player.

Next day, he said a lot of it was said in jest – a bit of a laugh.

But unlike Martin O’Neill, this is a man who seldom throws out one-liners without serious intent behind them.

He clearly wanted players like former Hoops winger Aiden McGeady to buck up their ideas, to show how desperate they are to push into the starting XI against Sweden in eight days’ time.

The problem though, as far as Roy is concerned, is the best players don’t need that kick up the backside.

He said: “Sometimes you have to motivate players – but the really good players motivate themselves. They don’t really need to get to hal ftime to be told ‘Come on, buck up your ideas’.

“That’s why these lads are at good clubs and playing regularly – they are good.

“People automatically think t hat a coach is in c o nt r o l o f everything. No, he’s not.

“He can provide the sessions and make sure we time it but the players have got to plug into it.”

Keane also some critical he uttered four years ago, after a 4- 0 loss to Spain in Gdansk during the finals of Euro 12. The fans were still singing The Fields of Athenry after a severe footballing lesson from Xavi & Co. – but Keane wasn’t having it.

Back then he said: “The players and even the supporters, they all have to change their mentality.

“It’s nonsense from players speaking after the games about how great the supporters are. I ’ m not too happy with that nonsense.

“Let ’ s not kid ourselves, we’re a small country, we’re up against it – but let’s not go along for the sing-song every now and again.”

Keane said last week those comments were aimed only at the fans, but the quotes clearly show he was critical of the mentality of the players.

We’re all allowed to change our minds, of course, and he now believes the Class of 2012 had the same positive attitude the current gang possess. He said: “There have been a few things said over the last few years about our mentality at Euro 2012.

“I don’t think for one minute the last squad were thinking they were going over there for a sing-song.

“They had a bad start and it’s hard to recover from that. I don’t want to come across as critical of that squad – they did well, but it was a tough group.”

Of that 2012 squad, only Stephen Ward, John O’Shea, Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters look to be pushing for a place in the starting XI against Sweden.

And Keane doesn’t believe there will be any collective hangover from the Polish pasting.

He said: “I don’t sense that fear in this group. I didn’t sense that among the lads who were in the last group.

“The likes of Robbie Keane and Shay Given, went over there with a mentality they would get out of the group.

“We have that mindset as well. The first game is important though, it’s the same for every country.

“We know how tight it will be and that we’ve got to get something on board. We want to get out of the group then take it from there.

“Even as a player you never really think beyond that. You can’t because of the pitfalls.”

If Ireland don’t do so, prepare for some harsh words from Tournament Roy.