Roy: 1994 is our benchmark

ROY KEANE says the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup ended the day they beat Italy 1-0 in their opening game of USA ’94.

Last Wednesday Ireland beat Italy 1-0 again. Afterwards the players sang and drank beer on the team bus from Lille to Versailles, eventually getting to bed at 5.30am.

Keane, though, says this squad will not make the same mistake as 22 years ago, when the former midfielder believes there was a feeling of being able to ‘relax and party having avoided disgrace’.

‘You can’t begrudge a player having a celebration,’ said the Ireland assistant manager.

‘That (on Wednesday) was getting out of the group, it’s slightly different to winning your first game. So no, that won’t be a problem with this group of players and hopefully this staff.’

Ireland’s reward for that late victory over Italy — secured thanks to Robbie Brady’s 85th-minute header — is this afternoon’s last-16 tie against hosts France in Lyon.

Win again and it would rank as the greatest result in the history of Irish football and there is a feeling that this team — conquerors of world champions Germany last year — are motivated by the big occasion.

‘It’s a different challenge to Italy but it’s always your hope when you’re working with players that there’s more to come,’ said Keane.

‘But the other night we got the performance we wanted — our decisionmaking seemed to be switched on, physically we were strong with good energy levels. Even when we got in front of goal we seemed to make the right decisions at the right time. We need all that on Sunday.

‘We have to give ourselves a chance by getting a foothold in the game, like we saw in the first few minutes the other night, tackling and being aggressive.

‘If it’s not (up to that standard), we’re in trouble.’

And there is one player Keane believes can hurt Ireland — Paul Pogba.

‘Oh, he’s up there with the best of them,’ said Keane.

‘A really top player. We’d like him in our group. From what I’ve heard he’s a really decent kid as well.

‘I’ve seen him live a few times and I like what I see.’