“Roy Keane is back with us to restore some calm.”
A rarely used sentence but ITV presenter Mark Pougatch went with it as Roy Keane resumed his seat on the panel.
The former Manchester United and Ireland captain joined host Pougatch and a panel completed by former England internationals Gary Neville, Lee Dixon and Ian Wright.
The quartet of former footballers were last together earlier in the tournament and viewers got a real kick out of Keane telling his colleagues to cool the jets after they beat Panama 6-1. With a well-timed hook of his thumb, the Cork native dead-panned:
“England have already won the tournament, according to these lads down here.”
Keane had missed the last few games of ITV’s coverage from Russia but he will be there for the final, on Sunday, and was in-situ for the semi-final clash between England and Croatia.
Ahead of the game, Keane was already drawing the ire of English supporters on the ‘It’s Coming Home’ bandwagon.
Bloody @ITV What's the point of Roy Keane! Flying him back for this game? No point – he doesn't want to be there and it's got nothing to do with him – he's IRISH!!!!! Mute button on as always with IT bloody V!! Come on ENGLAND!!
— Alan Harrison (@AlanHarrison60) July 11, 2018
Roy Keane will be shirtless and shouting " I fukin told ya" on ITV if England lose tonight . #ENG #CRO
— Hugo (@Hugo_Relva) July 11, 2018
How much do I want #England to win tonight?
About as much as Roy Keane doesn’t want to be in a studio with three ex-England players on a night England may go through to the #WorldCupFinal 😂 😂 #ENGCRO pic.twitter.com/J7CpJRkJOE— Devutopia (@D_Raval) July 11, 2018
I enjoy Roy Keane being on the panel. It’s like a Samuel Beckett character has wandered in and he’s about to mutter: “Yes, there is football but there is also death.”
— Mic Wright (@brokenbottleboy) July 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/leodis27/status/1017099296246812675
One Irishman abroad could feel Keane’s pain…
His patriotism knows no bounds. Roy Keane is absolutely fuming to have to sit on the panel for an England World Cup semi final. #EnglandvCroatia #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/stJks8eYzK
— Jarlath Regan (@Jarlath) July 11, 2018
With England 1-0 up at half-time, courtesy of a Kieran Trippier cracker-jack free, some were not having Keane’s pragmatic suggestion that England were not home and hosed.
Roy Keane: “If England don’t finish this off they will never forgive themselves.”
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) July 11, 2018
England 1-0 up and playing well….Roy Keane comes on as negative as ever #CROvENG #itfc
— PAUL WALLAGE (@PAULWALLAGE) July 11, 2018
#roykeane most optimistic man in football "if they lose now they'll regret it for the rest of their lives" #itscomimghome #CROvsENG
— hannah swift (@hannahswift_law) July 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/Blondebarnet1/status/1017119814010195968
The game headed into extra time so Keane, at least, was on over-time and getting handsomely paid.
Winning!
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