Keegan appeal

Kevin Keegan last night insisted England's players remain focused on their final Euro 2000 group game against Romania despite…

Kevin Keegan last night insisted England's players remain focused on their final Euro 2000 group game against Romania despite UEFA's threat to kick them out of the tournament should fans riot again.

Keegan's men could be denied a place in the last eight, even if they claim the required point to qualify, if fans cause more trouble.

Over 800 English supporters were arrested in Brussels and Charleroi before and during the 1-0 victory over Germany. But the England coach said of the game in Charleroi: "We are fully focused. We will not let anything take our focus away from the match.

"Obviously the players are aware. Adam Crozier (chief executive of the Football Association) explained to them exactly what the situation was. No-one wanted to ask any questions.

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Keegan admitted the win over Germany "would not impress the connoisseurs of football" and added he had not even contemplated the possibility of a quarterfinal against Italy in Brussels on Saturday.

"I haven't really thought about Italy yet, it's in the distance," he said.

With regards to the violence, he said: "Sometimes in my position I have asked fans to respect the national anthem at Wembley and I gave up on that one.

"But before I left I said I wanted fans to come out here for the right reasons.

"We wanted the same things as the fans - to win the tournament. I think we've got a chance. The FA are winners, the players have the capability. The fans have been winners in the stadium.

"The ones who are letting us down are losers. They've got to see the light. We've got a fantastic opportunity to go forward as a nation.

"The ones who come over there for the wrong reasons - we don't want them in the stadiums.

"It disappoints me. Respect other people's countries - that is the very minumum that should be required."

"To talk about pulling out for the players would be devastating."

Keegan said: "I don't think anything I have seen in the last few days has been a surprise.

"I think what UEFA said had to be said, I think the way the police reacted had to be done and I think it would be wrong if an England manager walked out of a press conference and didn't say, once again, how important it is that fans come for the right reasons." Keegan claimed his squad would be devastated if UEFA were forced to bring their ban into effect.

"You know the rocky road we have had to get here, and the supporters have followed us down that road. They have been tremendous - and I am talking about the real supporters, who come in the stadium, behave themselves and support the team in the right manner.

"What we lost the other night was - that if you took the stadium as football as we know it - it was a fantastic atmosphere to play in. I take my hat off to both sets of supporters. There were English in with the Germans, and Germans in with the English.

"If those people can make it work, then we've got to make sure that those who can't make it work are put out to really have an effect on football.

"Deep down it would help the players immensely if they thought they could go and play in a game tonight, and go to Heysel Stadium on Saturday, and for all the right reasons enjoy the games."