Just as Declan Rice prepares to kick-off his 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with England, so Roy Keane has had another pop at the player’s Ireland past - and reminded Gary Neville that the Arsenal midfielder once kissed the Irish badge on his shirt.
Rice will be vice-captain when England take on Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday, his second appearance at a World Cup finals with the land of his birth.
But former Irish assistant Keane hasn’t forgotten - or even forgiven - the fact that Rice made three international appearances for Ireland before he switched allegiances in 2019.
Assistant to Martin O’Neill when Rice appeared in those three friendlies, Keane brought the player’s history up again on the Stick To Football podcast ahead of the game in Dallas.
The Irish Sun reports that as Gary Neville and Ian Wright discussed the best England team from different generations, they both included Rice in their selections.
Then Neville ‘teased’ Keane according to the report when he said: “You’re just a bit upset still because he didn’t choose Ireland, aren’t you?”
But Keane hit back by stating: “No, he did choose Ireland. He played for Ireland, so he did choose them. He changed his mind. He did play for them, he kissed the badge as well in one game.”
He may have missed out on the Celtic job as Martin O’Neill signed on for another year at Parkhead but Robbie Keane could yet return to management in Scotland - with Hearts.
Rangers are set to bring Derek McInnes from Easter Road to Ibrox as replacement for Danny Rohl with Keane now installed as one of the favourites to take over Hearts according to the Scottish Sun.
The paper reports that Keane is one of the top three candidates to land the job according to the bookies with Dutch duo Rene Hake and Dick Schreuder just ahead of him in the markers.
Keane, who held talks with Dermot Desmond around the Celtic job but drew fierce criticism from some supporters over his time in Israel, is in the market for a new job after leaving Fernencvaros in Hungary at the end of the season.
Hake previously managed FC Twente and Go Ahead Eagles and worked as an assistant with Manchester United and Feyenoord while Schreuder guided NEC Nijmegen to third place in the Eredivisie.
The FAI’s decision to move the Nations League game against Israel to a neutral venue has hit the headlines again with the SIPTU trade union pledging to support any workers who refuse to work at the game.
Mark McCadden in the Irish Mirror reports that Siptu represents workers in broadcasting, transport and the FAI.
Siptu Deputy General Secretary, Greg Ennis, said: “Moving these fixtures from Dublin to a neutral venue behind closed doors does not resolve the issue.
“It merely moves the Palestinian picket line out of sight. Our position is clear - don’t pass that picket line in Dublin, in Hungary or anywhere else.
“Siptu will stand with any member, or group of members, who refuses to assist in the staging, transport, broadcasting or servicing of these fixtures.”
Shamrock Rovers will play Maltese side Floriana in the first round of Champions League qualifying - a game already dubbed as the Roddy Collins derby on Twitter after he worked as manager with both clubs.
Stephen Bradley’s side will enjoy home advantage for the second leg next month following the draw in Switzerland on Friday, as reported by RTE Sport.
Derry City will play Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia in the Europa League first round while Bohemians will face St Joseph’s of Gibraltar in the first round of the UEFA Conference League.
Former Ireland striker David McGoldrick will play on for another season after agreeing a one-year deal with Nigel Clough’s Mansfield Town.
BBC Sport reports that Mansfield will be the 12th club that McGoldrick will play for after he turned down the offer of a new deal at Barnsley. McGoldrick has scored almost 200 goals in nearly 680 appearances in his professional career.
“The quality that he possesses in the final third was the main reason we pursued him,” said Clough.
