Roy Keane can be described as the sitting timebomb of the pundit gallery.

During the lead up to the World Cup, Keane was taking a back seat, not looking to upset the ‘apple cart’ as Roy would put it, waiting for the world Cup contract to arrive. ITV television duly obliged and Roy was on board.

Sitting alongside Roy in the gallery was friend and foe, Martin O’Neill, the near on combustible Slaven Bilić, with the emotionally charged Ian Wright and fellow gunner, the insomnia drolls of Lee Dixon. To complete the set,
not Roy’s favourite, Gary Neville.

Early doors, Roy seemed to be enjoying the Russian adventure, but weeks if being holed up in a hotel lit the Keano fuse. Roy was looking more strained and red faced as the tournament progressed. Keano was clearly in
no mood to abstain anymore.

Hiding behind his deep, thick, rimmed glasses, presenter, Mark Pougatch, unwittingly lit the fuse. He politely asks Roy the big kick off question, quote, “The Iranian coach Carlos Pueroz, you worked with him Roy at
Manchester United.” Roy replies, quote, “Good coach Carlos, but I made a mistake, I should have ripped his head off.” Silence and fidgeting gripped the studio, Keano has delivered, the viewing figures will rise, in wait of
the next Roy rant.

As a brief interlude follows, Roy would have the odd techy moment with Slaven Bilić, before the next big hit took place. As Roy laid into Gunner Ian Wright, while remarking on England’s progress, Roy, quote, “Football’s
coming home, you’re not even in the final.” Wright tried to respond in a forthright manner, quote, “I can celebrate our success if I want to.” Keane replied “You can if you got to the final, you need to control yourself man.”

If Roy’s mentor, Brian Clough was in situ, the words ‘young man’ would have been ushered, but to Keano, when the sighting of the red mist descends, it is best to dis-em-bark.