SOCCER

Captain Robbie Keane says Giovanni Trapatoni has to be kept on as Ireland manager.

The pressure is off to a certain extent following last nights 4-1 win in the Faroe Islands with the goals coming from Marc Wilson, Jonathan Walters and Darren O’Dea along with an own goal .

The manager says his record speaks for itself but adds that he doesn’t know if the F.A.I want to keep him.

Much has been made of the fact that for the first time he will not hold a press conference the day after a match but thats’ because he is returning home to see his sister who is in hospital.

In the groups other games Sweden came from 4-0 down to draw 4-all with Germany while Austria beat Kazakhstan at home 4-0.

That means the Germans top the group on 10 points after 4 games while Sweden are second on 7 points after 3 and Ireland lie third on 6 points from 3 games.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill is predicting good things for the future of his team.

They held Portugal to a 1-all draw in Group F – and were 10 minutes away from winning the game.

Former Derry City player Niall Mc Ginn with the goal.

England’s qualifier against Poland has been rescheduled for this afternoon following farcical scenes last night.

Despite heavy rain in Warsaw no-one closed the retractable roof on the Stadium.

It led to a waterlogged pitch and the game was called off after two inspections.

Meanwhile Scotland lost 2-0 to Belgium and Wales lost 2-0 to Croatia.