The Republic of Ireland squad are still positive despite striker Jonathan Walters' injury concerns as a jovial Roy Keane on Thursday (16th June) defended his previous comments that he would "kick" Belgium's Eden Hazard.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roy Keane, Republic of Ireland assistant manager:(if Belgium's poor performance against Italy means the Republic of Ireland could be close to favourites in their match)

"Dangerous game for us. Absolutely. You look at the players on paper…. you trying to suggest for one minute that we might be favourites for the game/"

(Journalist: Maybe)

"No, no. I think you've been drinking."

SOUNDBITE (English) Roy Keane, Republic of Ireland assistant manager:(on Jonathan Walters' injury)

"Don't be writing Jon Walters out of this tournament or what he is going to bring to this set-up. Big player for us, big character, you go into any competition you know players are going to get injured, you know players are going to get suspended, it's how you cope with it. So it's a big test for us with how we cope without Jon against Belgium and whoever comes in for him I'm pretty sure will do a good job."

SOUNDBITE (English) Roy Keane, Republic of Ireland assistant manager:(on why he said during the English Premier League season that he'd 'kick him up and down the training pitch' about Belgium and Chelsea's Eden Hazard)

"It's nothing against the lad, I think he's a talented boy. I'd like him to be in our group. Really top player. Had a difficult season I suppose, but that's maybe because he set his standards so high the previous season. Don't get me the wrong way, I think he's an outstanding player, but if you asked if I was playing with anybody and they were constantly talking and if it was true they wanted to leave and they had a poor attitude in training, then I'd kick them in training. But I kind of done that with most players I suppose, even lads that didn't want to leave."