Keane: Our spirit is second to none ...it will see us through the Group of Death
FEW managers will have as much individual quality to choose from as Belgium boss Marc Wilmots.
Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Cristian Benteke, Divock Origi and Marouane Fellaini – the list of Premier League stars at Wilmots’ disposal is long and distinguished.
Add Thomas Vermaelen, the former Arsenal central defender now at Barcelona, Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan and Zenit St Petersburg counterpart Axel Witsel into the mix boss is aware how badly things went wrong at Euro 2012 for then Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni and has delayed making a decision until after this tournament. “Do the players really care? I don’t think they do,” said Kilbane. “Players are selfish. “For them, first of all, it’s about getting in the squad and getting in the team. That’s the only thing they are focused on. “They’re not too bothered about Martin O’Neill ( left) staying after the Euros. “My only problem with this is I think it should have been done because Martin’s done a great job getting us there anyway, so why hasn’t it been sorted out? “Maybe Martin feels like getting back into club management at this stage. “It’s just the awkwardness because the players will be asked about it and they won’t want to say the wrong thing or be misinterpreted.
“That is probably the only issue. But, from a playing point of view, there will be absolutely no issue.
“The players just want to be there. If Martin does leave, then there’s a big decision to be made and the players will be thinking beyond. But that will only happen after the tournament.”
Kilbane, who is a BBC pundit at the tournament, is pleased his former national team-mate Robbie Keane has been included in O’Neill’s squad, despite having a calf injury.
The LA Galaxy striker’s place appeared to be under threat, but he was named alongside fellow forwards Shane Long and Daryl Murphy. Kilbane said: “R o bbi e probably won’t start in our first game against Sweden.
“But he is a top player and probably the best I have ever played with, technically. He can hurt teams and that’s where I think that we could get some joy.”