Irish soccer squad gets back to business

The Irish football team has renewed its preparations ahead of its opening match of the World Cup against Cameroon in Niigata on Saturday.

The 22 remaining members of the squad resumed training today following the dramatic announcement by their former captain Roy Keane that he would not be returning to Japan following his expulsion by manager Mick McCarthy last weekend.

The squad took part in a training session with 300 children from local schools earlier today, before settling into more intensive exercises at their camp in Izumo.

Keane said last night that he did not feel it would be "in the best interests" of the team for him to make a last-gasp return to the fold, despite the fact that McCarthy hinted an apology from the Manchester United midfielder would, if it were accepted by the other players, be enough to allow him to do so.

His decision finally ends speculation there may be a way to solve the impasse that has captivated Ireland since last week.

The FAI said last night Keane's statement "brings closure to the matter".

Talks aimed at getting the pair to patch over their differences had been going on since last Sunday, but Keane’s interview on RTÉ on Monday is reported to have failed to impress the Irish manager with its lack of an apology.

Yesterday McCarthy told the squad he would resign if Keane was brought back without having to say he was sorry. After a discussion, all agreed and issued a statement backing their manager.