With the news which broke today (that has since been confirmed) that Marco Verratti will miss Euro 2016 to undergo surgery on a hip injury, it is likely that Roma veteran Daniele De Rossi will fill the void left by the PSG midfielder as well as Claudio Marchisio who has also been ruled out.
De Rossi doesn't feature as regularly for his club as he has done in the past, but he will still be an important player for the Italians, and he will want to play his very best against Ireland in particular in order to impress his "absolute hero", Roy Keane, Ireland's assistant manager.
Speaking to AS Roma's official website, De Rossi explained that he reason he wears #16 for club and country is because of Keano:
In my opinion, the legendary Manchester United captain needs no introduction. He’s my all-time idol.
Besides Gaia (my daughter, who was born on the 16th), I wear 16 because of him.
He’s the only person in the world I’ve asked for a photo, two years ago. I was too embarrassed with Maradona but I couldn’t resist with him.
He didn't get a photo with Maradona, but he had to get one with Keane.
The man knows his football.
Having watched the manner in which De Rossi plays the game it's easy to see the influence that Keane had on his career as he adopts a very similar style of midfield play that stays right on the brink of acceptable levels of aggression, but hopefuly the nerves of playing in front of his hero get the better of him in Lille.
