Robbie Keane will not be returning to the LA Galaxy early from international duty ahead of the team's vital Oct. 16 match against the Montreal Impact.
"The Football Association of Ireland today confirmed that Noel King has responded this afternoon to the manager of LA Galaxy, Bruce Arena, to inform him that he has decided not to release Robbie Keane and trusts that he understands the position, having been an international manager himself," the FAI said in a statement. "Bruce Arena had requested that the release of Robbie Keane be considered after the Germany match and before the international match against Kazakhstan in Dublin on October 15."
The wording of the release is important because remember that with a loss or a draw against Germany on Friday, Keane's Irish side would be eliminated from contention for the World Cup. Arena told reporters on Tuesday that he had been in contact with U.S. Soccer and the FAI about potentially releasing Landon Donovan and Keane following their respective first international matches, which could in effect mean nothing in terms of qualification.
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