PADDY AND ROY

From The Guardian:

‘A smile flickered across Patrick Vieira's face as soon as the name Roy Keane was mentioned. On Wednesday the pair engage in what could be the last of their momentous battles and the stakes will be as high as in any of their Arsenal-Manchester United clashes. "It's exciting," Vieira remarked.

The midfielder may have left England for Juventus but now he and Keane meet in their first international in a must-not-lose World Cup qualifier. Keane missed the 2002 finals after his fall-out with Mick McCarthy and Vieira might enjoy denting the United captain's dream of making the next one - his last.

It was, after all, talk of international commitment that provoked a sparky exchange before the pair's most recent tête-à-tête , the FA Cup final. Vieira questioned Keane's loyalty to Ireland for walking out in 2002 and Keane remarked that Vieira was born in Senegal, not France. Reminded of the disagreement, Vieira grinned. "That's part of the game," he said.

"He's someone I really respect. He's one the best in his position so it will be a nice one v one. But there will be so many important players on the pitch so I don't think our head-to-head will make the difference."’