Robbie Keane yesterday received both positive reviews and praise from his coach Marcello Lippi, following his Thursday night debut for his new Serie A club, Inter Milan. Playing in a friendly triangular tournament, Keane participated for the full 45 minutes of Inter's 1-0 win against Bari, then came on for about 20 minutes in Inter's second and decisive game against Juventus, eventually lost in an American style, 30-yard, seven second shoot-out.
Many critics, seeing the 20-year-old Irishman in action for the first time, were favourably impressed. Although it was widely acknowledged that a player who had joined the team just three days ago was inevitably going to have difficulty finding both his position and his team-mates, nearly all commentators underlined Keane's pace, mobility and willingness to make himself available. He also received full recognition for setting up Inter's goal against Bari with a precise pass to Yugoslav Vladimir Jugovic, who in turn laid back the ball for Chilean Ivan Zamorano.
Milan-based daily, Corriere Della Sera, struck a typical note when pointing out that coach Lippi will have been well pleased not only with Keane but also with Inter's overall performance in view of their Champions League tie against Swedish side Helsingborg, next week.
"One thing you can say for sure is that coach Lippi will have gone home a happy man after having seen his Inter team look so sharp and, above all, after watching Keane whose temperament, running, commitment and willingness to fit in with team-mates is quite remarkable. Keane seems to be integrating himself into the world of Inter at an amazing rate as evidenced by his immediately good partnership with Zamorano . . ."
Rome daily, La Repubblica, struck a more cautious, but nonetheless positive note, when commenting: "There were some good signs from the Irishman who, even if he looked a little lost, still showed himself quick and willing to work. This is a player who has much to learn about what Inter want of him but who also needs to be understood by his team-mates."
All media reaction highlighted coach Lippi's satisfaction with Keane. Speaking after Thursday night's tournament, Lippi commented: "Particularly in the first game (against Bari), Keane put himself about well and did many good things. Considering that he has been training with the others for only three days, the few good things he was able to show already seem very important to me."
With a view to next week's Champions League tie, however, Keane will still face a difficult task getting a place in the starting line-up. Thursday night's tournament showed that both Inter's Latin American strikers, Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba and Chilean Zamorano, are almost 100 per cent match fit, having played in World Cup qualifiers for their respective countries throughout the summer.
On top of that, Turkish striker Hakan Sukur made a very positive impression in Bari, being substituted by Keane against Juventus only after he had received a blow on the knee. Sukur's injury is not believed to be serious and he too should be in contention for a team place against Helsingborg next week.
