Keane - Ireland now stronger

Captain hoping for opening win in Armenia

Last updated: 3rd September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Keane - Ireland now stronger

Keane: Feels Ireland are now stronger

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Robbie Keane is hoping Republic of Ireland's agonising World Cup heartbreak has put the team in a stronger position to qualify for Euro 2012.

Ireland finished runners-up to Italy in their qualifying group for the World Cup finals before losing to France in a controversial play-off tie.

The focus now turns to reaching the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, with Ireland starting their campaign away to Armenia on Friday.

When asked if his side are better equipped to qualify than they were two years ago, captain Keane said: "Yeah, maybe, with the confidence the players have in each other and the new players coming in and adapting to each other.

"With the experience we have now, of course it is only going to make you a better team.

"The more experience you have, the better you are and hopefully the experience we had in the last campaign will stand us in good stead for this one.

"We had a great chance in the last campaign - obviously, we just missed out, but hopefully that will make us stronger and more determined now to qualify."

Want to win

Armenia represent the first hurdle which must be cleared if that objective is to be achieved, and captain and manager are singing from the same hymn sheet when they assess the task ahead of them.

Giovanni Trapattoni has predicted a battle at the Yerevan Republican Stadium, and while he will target victory, he has left his players in little doubt that the first objective is to come away with something.

Keane said: "The most important thing is not to lose. It's the first game and of course, you want to win every game you are involved in, and that will be the case.

"We are not going to come here looking to get a draw. We want to win the game.

"But the most important thing is certainly not to lose the game."