Keane - can he upset Spain skipper Hierro? (Allsport)
REPUBLIC v SPAIN HEAD-TO-HEAD
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Gary Breen v Raul
The Irishman does not have a club back home at the moment
but has produced battling, goalscoring performances for the Irish. Whether he
can handle Raul, Spain's superstar striker, remains to be seen. Raul has pace,
vision, movement while Breen - with all due respect - is competive and has a big
heart. Along with Steve Staunton he has to keep Raul and Morientes quiet, easier
said than done the way the Real Madrid pair are playing.
Matt Holland v Juan Valeron
The Spanish playmaker does not enjoy tight
marking, and that is what he will get from the busy, grafting Ipswich
midfielder. Valeron has the guile and clever passing while Holland will hound
his every step. Holland gets goals too, as he showed against Cameroon while
Valeron's strike against Slovenia was his first-ever for his country.
Robbie Keane v Fernando Hierro
Keane has been outstanding for the Irish with
his pace, invention and sheer spirit. He will give Hierro a hard time when it
comes to pace and that is the one real worry the Spanish have at the back. Their
central defence has the combined age of 69 and Keane's drive and strength will
expose any weaknesses. Keane has already scored twice in this tournament and he
will be desperate for more. Any complacency by ageing Spaniards will be exposed
and punished bv the Leeds man.
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