Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane has announced his intention to retire from international football later this month following a record 145 caps and 67 goals.
We’ve taken a look at some of the 36-year-old’s landmark strikes for his national side ahead of his final game against Oman.
1. v Malta, Euro 2000 qualifier, Dublin, October 14 1998
Aged just 18 and winning only his fifth cap, Keane opened his goalscoring account for his country with two goals in Ireland’s 5-0 demolition of Malta at Lansdowne Road. Keane, then of Wolves, scrambled home his first from inside the six-yard box following a corner from the right and celebrated with his trademark cartwheel before seizing on some hesitant defending to break into the penalty area and curl his second into the right side of the net.
2. v Germany, 2002 World Cup, Ibraki, June 5 2002
Perhaps Keane’s most famous goal for his country came in the group stages of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. With his team staring defeat in the face against eventual runners-up Germany, the striker collected a flick on from Niall Quinn before smashing the ball past Oliver Khan and into the net via the right post in the second minute of added time to earn the Irish a 1-1 draw.
3. v Faroe Islands, 2006 World Cup qualifier, Dublin, October 13 2004
Keane, by this stage plying his trade with Tottenham, made history during the 2006 World Cup qualifier against the minnows by breaking the 21-goal Ireland scoring record held by former strike partner Quinn. The landmark strike came from the penalty spot and he also claimed the other goal of the game, finishing a pass from Roy Keane.
4. v France, 2010 World Cup play-off, Paris, November 18 2009
In a game remembered almost entirely for Thierry Henry’s handball, Keane scored what looked to be a vital goal in the Stade de France. Ireland trailed 1-0 from the first leg of the play-off until just after the half-hour mark when Keane calmly slotted in Damien Duff’s pull-back. The strike sent the clash into extra time but Irish dreams of a trip to the finals in South Africa were cruelly ended when Barcelona striker Henry controlled the ball with his arm before setting up William Gallas for the decisive goal.
5. v Macedonia, Euro 2012 qualifier, Skopje, June 4 2011
Just before his move to MLS side LA Galaxy, Keane once again made history as he became the first British or Irish player to reach 50 international goals. The milestone came in the eighth minute in Skopje when he picked up the ball 30 yards from goal before unleashing an ambitious strike which deflected off a defender before looping over the stranded goalkeeper. He did not have to wait long for his 51st goal as he calmly found the bottom left corner following a short back-pass nine minutes before the break to give his side a 2-0 success.
