Soccer:
Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady is ready to surpass captain Robbie Keane as the country's number one player. The 25-year-old Spartak Moscow midfielder insists he is not there yet but believes he can assume Keane's mantle in the coming years.
Keane, Ireland’s record goalscorer with 51 in 111 appearances, will be 32 in July and will be hoping to bookend his international career with an appearance at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.
Speaking to fans in an online chat for Spartak’s website, McGeady said he was prepared to step into the breach when Keane decides to stand aside.
"Who is the best player of Ireland? Many people would name Robbie Keane,” said the former Celtic player, before addings: “Am I ready to become the greatest? Yes, but give me a couple of years."
McGeady already has 44 international caps and has scored two goals since debuting against Jamaica in July, 2004.
Keane, meanwhile, has dispelled concerns regarding his fitness ahead of the Euro 2012 play-offs against Estonia, by completing 89 minutes for the LA Galaxy last night and helping his side advance in Major League Soccer's play-offs.
Keane failed to get on the scoresheet, but after his enforced lay-off in the wake of the Ireland’s win in Andorra, he looked sharp and was denied by the woodwork as Galaxy beat New York Red Bulls 2-1 on the night (3-1 on aggregate).
Keane is set to start against Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference final on Sunday before joining up with Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad early next week.
Ireland meet Estonia in Tallinn next Friday with the second leg at the Aviva Stadium four days later.
David Beckham had a hand in both goals for the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. After losing 1-0 in the first leg, New York levelled the tie on aggregate in just the fourth minute when Luke Rodgers latched on to a superb through ball from Thierry Henry and slotted home.
Englishman Rodgers, who had been at the centre of a war of words between the two teams in recent weeks, was immediately booked after a wild challenge on Beckham and was lucky to stay on the field after he aggressively kicked the ball into the crowd.
The Red Bulls will have been disappointed with the way they allowed LA to restore their advantage with a Beckham corner being headed in by diminutive midfielder Mike Magee - who scored the only goal in the first leg.
Rodgers went close to another goal after the break when he burst in on the left but his shot struck the side-netting and Henry was booked as New York struggled to maintain their first half tempo.
The Galaxy got in front on the night from the penalty spot after Beckham, with his back to goal, was needlessly fouled in the area by Roy Miller. Galaxy skipper Landon Donovan converted the spot kick.
Galaxy, who finished with the best regular season record in MLS, have home advantage against Salt Lake and, if they get through that test, they will have home advantage for the final on November 20th.
