‘We’ll see if they’re still laughing in a few weeks’: Roy Keane has Ian Wright and Gary Neville in stitches with typical deadpan delivery as he DOWNPLAYS England’s feelgood factor, insisting ‘you NEVER hear there’s a bad spirit’
Roy Keane left Gary Neville and Ian Wright in stitches as he downplayed England‘s feelgood factor ahead of their second World Cup match against the USA.
Gareth Southgate‘s side sat top of Group B before the game, needing a win to secure qualification to the knock-out stages of the World Cup with a game to spare.
Keane, however, speaking on ITV ahead of the game, insisted it would be strange if there wasn’t an ‘upbeat’ spirit in the camp, and questioned whether Gareth Southgate’s side would still be chirpy in a few weeks’ time, which left Neville and Wright unable to contain their laughter.
Roy Keane has downplayed England’s feelgood factor on show so far at the World Cup
Keane said it is usual to be ‘upbeat’ and that England are in Qatar ‘to win football matches’
‘Obviously they’ve had a good start, six goals’, Keane began. ‘But I never believe all that nonsense. You never hear the media come out and say there’s a bad spirit in the group.
‘There should be [a good spirit] after the first game and after three or four days away. They look fairly happy, they’re having a game of darts, they’re going to be upbeat.
‘The most important thing over here is to win football matches and we’ll see if they’re laughing in a few weeks.’
Several posts on social media have shown the England squad in good spirits in Qatar, with training photos of players smiling and squad social media show ‘The Lion’s Den’ putting forward a positive narrative.
The team beat Iran 6-2 in their opening match of the tournament while Friday’s opponents the USA drew 1-1 with Wales.
Keane, who made 67 appearances for the Republic or Ireland, was responding to Gary Neville’s quotes on the mood in the England camp.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions side beat Iran 6-2 in their opening game of the tournament
Kane was responding to Gary Neville (right) who praise the atmosphere in the England camp
Neville said: ‘I think in a tournament when you’ve got 26 players, eight of them might not even get on in the whole tournament, you do need a good group of lads, because they can bring the mood down if they don’t enjoy each other’s company. I think the lads who aren’t playing are just as important.
‘Obviously the lads who are playing are really happy, but it’s the lads out of the dressing room, they look like they’ve got a really good spirit. Gareth’s put that at the forefront, he’s played in some dressing rooms where it’s not always been the best.’
They would have been full of confidence in the build-up to the USA game with the side heavy favourites to win the group.
They will face a tougher task in the knockout rounds, however, with the Three Lions set to face reigning champions France in the quarter-finals if everything goes to plan for the host nation.
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