CARSON, Calif. – Robbie Keane will miss the LA Galaxy’s next SuperClasico with Chivas USA so that he can play a couple of friendlies with Ireland's national team, he told reporters on Tuesday.
The Galaxy's captain, who has seven goals in 10 league games this year, will be available for Sunday's MLS clash at Chicago (4 pm ET, MLS Live), but he’ll join up with his Irish teammates in Philadelphia ahead of their June 6 match against Costa Rica at PPL Park.
He will miss LA's StubHub Center showdown on June 8 with Chivas USA – the club's last game before MLS's two-week World Cup break – and play for Ireland on June 10 against Portugal in East Rutherford, N.J. He would be available again for LA when they open their US Open Cup campaign with a fourth-round match against first-year USL PRO club Arizona United on June 18 in Peoria, Ariz.
Keane said following LA's training session Thursday morning that he was thankful that Galaxy coach/GM Bruce Arena and Ireland manager Martin O'Neill reached an agreement.
“I'm grateful for both,” he said. “It's one of those situations where I just have to sit back and let them discuss it. Because, of course, you want to be in both places and play for both, but, unfortunately, the way the schedule has worked out.”
Keane is skipping the first two Irish internationals in a four-game set – Ireland lost, 2-1, Sunday against Turkey in Dublin and meet Italy on Saturday in London. He thought Arena's and O'Neill's compromise made since.
“I miss one game [against] Chivas,” Keane said. “I miss two for Ireland and play two.”
Keane has suited up against Chivas USA six times since joining the Galaxy in 2011, scoring five goals and adding two assists against the Goats.
