You might have thought that ruling yourself out of the first two games of football's second-most important international tournament with a shocking flash of irresponsibility was quite enough to concentrate the mind of the nation's most gifted player.

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Has Neville been called in by Roy Hodgson to monitor the mood of his former team-mate?

James Lawton: Gary Neville needs to find key to Wayne Rooney's desolate world

Has Neville been called in by Roy Hodgson to monitor the mood of his former team-mate?

Roy Keane

Roy Keane 'has an opinion on everything' says Ireland winger Aiden McGeady

Winger Aiden McGeady has hit back at criticism from former Republic of Ireland skipper Roy Keane.

Super strike: Phil Bardsley (centre) races away to celebrate after giving Sunderland the lead with a piledriver

Mignolet save keeps alive Sunderland's Cup dream

Everton 1 Sunderland 1: Memories of Jim Montgomery's Wembley final heroics revived by Belgian's late intervention

Sport on TV: England's old failures all want pizza the action now

It didn't take long for the pundits to set England's caretaker manager an impossible task for the so-called "impossible job". Before Stuart Pearce's first game in charge (ITV1, Wednesday), Gareth Southgate told the team to "express themselves, play with freedom". You mean they shouldn't just turn up and play as if they've never met before, never even played football before?

Manchester United continue to flourish financially

Shorts off menu for 'prawn-sandwich fans'

Roy Keane once infamously described them as the "prawn sandwich brigade", and now some in the hospitality boxes at Manchester United are feeling the club's wrath, too. Action is being taken following complaints from other members about fans attending in clothes not adhering to the club's dress code.

Angus Fraser: India's captain did the right thing: winning at all costs is not cricket

The Laws of cricket are constantly changing and there has to be common sense about them

Roy Keane linked with vacant position at Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory have refused to comment on speculation linking Roy Keane with their vacant manager's position.

Michael Bradley eager to impress at Aston Villa

Aston Villa newcomer Michael Bradley admits he has taken inspiration from Roy Keane as he looks to bring the same all-action midfield style to the midlands club.

Paul Jewell named Ipswich manager

New Ipswich manager Paul Jewell will be among the spectators for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final with Arsenal before beginning his attempt to rebuild the shattered confidence at Portman Road.

Ipswich confirm Roy Keane sacking

Ipswich have sacked manager Roy Keane after just 20 months in charge of the npower Championship strugglers.

Keane's troubled reign at Ipswich ends in sack

Roy Keane's difficult 20 months at Ipswich Town were ended last night when the club's owner, Marcus Evans, finally sacked the former Manchester United captain.

Ipswich denies Keane in training fight

Reports of a fight between Ipswich manager Roy Keane and defender Damien Delaney have been denied by the Championship club.

Not all agents are bad says Roy Keane

The role of football agents has come under the spotlight again in the wake of the Wayne Rooney contract saga but Roy Keane insists there are good agents as well as bad.

Career Services

Day In a Page

Countdown's rudest ever moments

Yesterday a contestant spelt the word 'minge'.
Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported
The problem with social mobility

The problem with social mobility

Politicians who say they want to break down Britain's social barriers have been told to unlock closed-shop professions – starting in their own backyard
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, by the way)

France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)

Next month expats in the stronghold of South Kensington will have a big say in who is returned as the first French overseas MP
Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Two years on from the disaster that shook the Caribbean state, its eastern neighbour, the Dominican Republic, fears a new wave of illegal immigrants could hurt its economy
Mean streets at the movies

Mean streets at the movies

Plan B's new film explores the urban tensions that led to last summer's riots – and he's not the only one finding cinematic inspiration in social unrest
Romney hits the magic number, but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test

Romney hits the magic number...

... but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Weeks after the demise of Sarkozy, the TF1 star he's said to have dated finds herself out of office too
Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Can a network of hi-tech terminals and online medics make the connection?
The 10 Best cycling gear

The 10 Best cycling gear

It’s summer, it's sunny... it’s the perfect time to get on your bike.
Song of the suicide bomber: How 'Babur in London' negotiated a cultural minefield

Song of the suicide bomber

Daring new opera 'Babur in London' features British terrorists planning an attack.
The school that brought the International Baccalaureate to the East End

Bringing the IB to the East End

The International Baccalaureate is not just for pupils in leafy suburbs.
England must beware brilliant Belgium

England must beware brilliant Belgium

They may have missed out on the Euros but the Belgians have a rash of young players who, thanks to the unifying skills of their coach, look to have a bright future
James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job

James Lawton

Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

Three Lions will play their Euro 2012 games in front of only a few thousand of their fans