Updated: Nov. 22, 2007
Keane: Big-ego players detrimental to England
LONDON, Nov. 22 (Reuters) - Sunderland manager Roy Keane said on
Thursday that he felt some England players had inflated egos and
were so obsessed by club football that they no longer cared about
the international game.
The former Ireland midfielder said he understood why Steve McClaren
was sacked as manager following England's 3-2 home defeat by
Croatia that ended their Euro 2008 hopes but added that there were
more fundamental problems with the set up.
'England should qualify with the players they have but good players
don't always make a good team,' Keane told a press conference.
'Certainly last night they didn't do it. The manager pays the price
but the players didn't do him any favours.
'From the outside looking in, I tend to think there are too many
egos in there, too many big heads. If you get carried way with a
little bit of success then you are in trouble.
'You look at the England set up and they don't appear to be a happy
bunch I have to say.
'Watching the highlights and some of the players being interviewed
last night and their body language, I don't think international
football is that important to a lot of these players these days and
club football has taken over, especially for a lot of top players
involved in the Champions League.'
Keane, one of the most committed and dedicated professionals of
recent years, felt the English FA was working hard to encourage the
development of basic skills at grass roots level.
'You have to have the heart and passion but that only gets you so
far,' he said. 'Technically you have to be able to handle the ball
and these top countries who win tournaments have that.'
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How true 
