Strachan furious over Robbie injury - June 8, 2000 Gordon Strachan has hit out at the FAI for excepting invitations to micky-mouse tournaments when instead they should be resting their most prized assets, their players. The Coventry boss was left fuming when he heard the news that Robbie Keane had picked up a groin injury in Ireland's Nike Cup game against Mexico. He said: "The game has gone money mad and players are getting dragged all over the world for a game of football. It's not just Robbie Keane, it's other international players that are playing in stupid tournaments. "This one is basically down to Nike, who sponsor it, wanting to take the Irish across to see the Irish people and get things going in America. "Because of his talent, over the last three years Robbie has had no rest and has played in every team he has been eligible for - from Irish kindergarten to full international." Ireland's reasoning for accepting the invitation to the US Cup was to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers later in the year but Strachan does not accept this. "I don't really know if it's beneficial to the team or not. Wouldn't it be more beneficial if these players got a rest and were really ready for the World Cup? I don't really know," concluded Strachan. |