Keane ‘war’ remark inappropriate, says Prodl
ROY KEANE was wrong to invoke the term ‘war’ as a motivation tool for the Republic of Ireland ahead of last Sunday’s World Cup qualifier, according to Austria defender Sebastian Prodl.
‘I think, especially in these days, he (Keane) knows himself, it’s not that clever to speak about war, to use the word “war” when we are facing much bigger problems in the world right now than war in football. So I think it wasn’t clever,’ said the Watford centre-half.
‘We all knew what he meant and how he tries to motivate his players. If that is the type of motivation they need, it is up to them. We are not at all concerned about what he said.
‘But especially now with the world of terrorism, especially in the UK, we shouldn’t use these words close to a football game,’ added Prodl.
Austria remain four points behind Serbia and Ireland in Group D but Prodl has not ruled out a late push for qualification.
‘There are four competitors and the game is still on,’ he warned. ‘If we beat Serbia at home and Wales away I think the dark horse is coming from behind and everybody should be aware.
‘I think everybody is alert in this group stage. Ireland, although they deserved a point in the end, they still know that Austria is in the competition.
‘We are not planning our holidays for next summer, there are four games to go and we are still in the race. We will fight to the end.’
Meanwhile Jon Walters, the Ireland goal hero against Austria, may consider leaving Stoke City this summer to ensure he is match fit for the autumn World Cup qualifiers and beyond.
‘I don’t know about the future,’ he said.
‘I’ve a year left on the contract. I want to play football and with the chance of going to the World Cup, you want to be playing.’
Walters has been with Stoke since August 2010 but he managed just 23 Premier League appearances with the club last season, a campaign that was interrupted considerably by injuries.