Keane to retire from Ireland after W.Cup
( 2002-05-23 15:53 ) (7 )

Ireland captain Roy Keane will retire from international soccer after the World Cup.

The BBC quoted Keane as saying in a television interview on Thursday: "I spoke to the manager and I'll stick it out till after the World Cup and that will be it for me. Without a doubt."

The Manchester United midfielder, pivot of his country's World Cup team, had threatened to fly home from a training camp this week for "personal reasons" before changing his mind.

Keane, who has been struggling with a knee injury, attacked Ireland's preparations for the World Cup, which starts on May 31. Ireland play Germany, Saudi Arabia and Cameroon in the first round.

"You've seen the training pitch and I'm not being a prima donna. Training pitch, travel arrangements, getting through the airport when we were leaving, it's the combination of things.

"I would never say `that is the reason or this is the reason', but enough is enough," he said.

"You wonder why players get injured? Well, playing on a surface like that.

"I can't imagine any other country, countries in the world who are far worse off than us, playing on something like that," the 30-year-old said.

"But you know, we're the Irish team, it's a laugh and a joke. We shouldn't expect too much."

Keane, 30, has regularly blasted his Manchester United team mates this season in which they failed to win a trophy.