Germany at the World Cup, the Netherlands in 2002, France in Paris, Italy in Bari, there have been plenty of goals as memorable as they are important in Robbie Keane’s career.
The Dubliner netted 67 times for the Republic of Ireland in 145 games in a career spanning 18 years. It’ll be a barstool debate that will continue for decades. Robbie Keane’s best international goal.
Every Irish fan has their favourite, now the man himself has had his say. On the eve of his international retirement Robbie Keane has weighed in on the matter.
For Ireland’s record goal scorer, his first one holds a special place in his heart.
“There’s been so many moments, certainly obviously Germany in the World Cup would always stand out. The France one doesn’t really stand out because we lost the game”
“Nothing will ever beat the first goal you’ve ever scored for Ireland, against Malta I scored two and we won 5-0”.
“A year and a half before that I was playing on the streets in Tallaght and here I am on the big stage in Lansdowne Road scoring my first goal in front of the Irish crowd.”
Following Keane’s decision to call quits on his international career, his first interview began to do the rounds, uploaded by YouTuber KillianM2 it shows Keane speaking to RTÉ’s Ger Canning following his home debut against Argentina.
Keane believes that footage illustrates the passion he’s always had for Ireland:
“I think that shows you the joy I had to put that green jersey on, that has never left me. It’s always been the same even to Euro 2016.”
“That 17-year-old kid growing up in Tallaght, is still the same lad and still has the appreciation of putting that Ireland jersey on and that’s something that will never go away from me”
Video footage of the goal against Malta is hard to come by, in its stead here's that brilliant goal against Germany at the 2002 World Cup. Oliver Kahn still has nightmares about Keane appearing in the last minute in the box.
