Trapattoni thinking of finals

A 1-1 draw with Estonia at the Aviva Stadium completed a 5-1 aggregate play-off victory and secured an 8 million euro ($10.65 million) windfall for the Football Association of Ireland.

But Trapattoni, who referred to Greece's unexpected triumph at Euro 2004 on his arrival in Ireland three-and-a-half years ago, is not content just to have qualified.

He said: "I think never say never.

"I hope only we have no injuries in this campaign and no suspensions.

"It's good that we have new options to come in, but it's important that we have the basis of our first team available.

"Why not? Now we have discovered Jon Walters, we have discovered also Simon Cox, and we also have Robbie Keane and Shane Long to come back, and also our wingers.

"With this group, why not? It's not a dream. We need 100 percent commitment, but football is about scoring goals."

The final whistle brought scenes of joy on and off the pitch as Trapattoni and his players celebrated a first ever qualification on home soil, its first anywhere for 10 years and its first trip to the European championship since 1988.

The Italian had spent the days since his side's 4-0 first-leg victory in Tallinn insisting that it could take nothing for granted and that the job was not done, although the 72-year-old was well aware that the tie was all over bar the shouting.

But having seen skipper Robbie Keane pass up two glorious opportunities inside the opening six minutes, the home side extended the lead 14 minutes before the break when fullback Stephen Ward fired home from close range after goalkeeper Pavel Londak had parried Kevin Doyle's header.

However, despite the selection problems which had denied coach Tarmo Ruutli the services of first-choice goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko and central defenders Andrei Stepanov and Raio Piiroja through suspension, Estonia produced a spirited response.

It got its reward 12 minutes into the second half when skipper for the night Konstantin Vassiljev blasted a swerving, dipping 30-yard shot past Shay Given to deny the Republic victory on the night.

Nevertheless, it is Ireland which will head for Poland and Ukraine next year, and Trapattoni will hope to do so with a new contract signed, sealed and delivered.

FAI chief executive John Delaney was giving nothing away after the game, but the tenor of his words tended to support reports that a two-year extension will be on the table.

Delaney told Sky Sports: "That's not for tonight, but what I would say is he's been brilliant to work with. For me it's been a pleasure.

"The board will meet in the next couple of weeks and we'll sit down with Giovanni and we'll discuss what can happen in the future. I think that should happen sooner rather than later.

"But what I would say is, has Giovanni Trapattoni taken us forward? Yes, he has.

"Four years ago, where were we? Today we're in a far better place. We're qualified and the country is going to erupt tonight."

A bumper crowd of 51,151 did indeed erupt on the final whistle as they acclaimed Trapattoni and his players, although the manager had no plans to join his charges as they prepared to party.

He said: "No. They deserve to drink beers, but it's best I don't see this."

Meanwhile, Ruutli was delighted with the way his depleted side fought back from the ignominy of humiliation at the A Le Coq Arena.

He said: "Friday was a bad day. Sometimes it can happen, and it happened on Friday.

"Tonight was our real level and two even teams went against each other, and we showed that tonight the level which got us so many points and got us to this play-off.

"We can say that this was a successful group and a success that we reached the play-off because this was the first time for Estonia to play at such a high level."