Keane: 'I still want to play in the World Cup'

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Ireland squad tells Keane: Stay at home

McCarthy hints apology could let Keane return

Keane: 'I still want to play in the World Cup'

Keane is not the sole culprit in collision of grand egos

The door was left slightly ajar last night to the possibility of Roy Keane's return to the World Cup fold after the player gave an interview in which he gave a defiant justification of his actions but stressed he still wanted to play for Ireland.

In an often emotional broadcast, Keane said that "maybe there is a way'' of still playing, thereby putting pressure on Mick McCarthy, the manager, to find such a method of letting him return to the tournament.

Last night, McCarthy responded by hinting that a resolution was possible if Keane telephoned him. Despite previously insisting the matter was closed, McCarthy said: "He has spoken on television to 3.5 million people, but there has not been a call to me. That call needs to come."

Much of Ireland tuned into RTE's six o'clock news after rumours spread that the interview might be part of a peace process designed to bring back the Manchester United player. Keane was sent home from the Republic's training base last Thursday after a vitriolic verbal assault on McCarthy.

Keane rebuffed the idea of apology in order to play. "My conscience is clear. If there was any doubt in my mind that Roy, you were little bit, little bit out of order, you should maybe have held back a little bit, I'd be back like a shot, but I will not accept it and I can't accept it," he said. He stressed he felt the "ball is in the other court" and others should make the first move.

"I've made mistakes, probably more mistakes than anybody, and I've done things I'm ashamed of over the years, but I'm sticking to my guns because I know my gut feeling is right ... What happened to me last week, I wouldn't wish it on anybody, and I felt I deserved better. Now of course I lost my temper ... but people make me out to be a monster and I'm a loner and it's nonsense."

He finished by saying: "Maybe there is a way ... who knows? The match is Saturday and we are running out of time ... I want to play for Ireland, nobody wants to play for Ireland more than me."

Asked if the affair was hurting him emotionally, he said: "Of course it's hurting me. Dead right it is. Dead right."