Keane to impress

Ireland secured its ticket for the finals by following up a stunning 4-0 play-off first leg victory over Estonia in Tallinn with a 1-1 draw in the return at the Aviva Stadium.

The win ends a 10-year wait for qualification for a major tournament.

UEFA has confirmed that Giovanni Trapattoni's men will be among the fourth group of seeds along with Denmark, France and Czech Republic when the draw is made in Kiev on December 2.

However, having drawn home and away with Italy in World Cup qualifiers and then defeating it in a friendly last summer, very nearly shocked the French in the infamous play-off in Paris and returned from Moscow with an unlikely point in September, 31-year-old Keane insists Ireland will be confident of giving anyone a game.

He said: "If you look at the history of Irish teams in tournaments, they have always been a hard team to beat.

"They always upset a few people, and I am sure we can go over there and certainly make an impact."

Keane, of course, announced his arrival on the world stage at the 2002 World Cup finals, the last for which his country qualified.

Ten years on, his age and his position as captain mean his latest achievement is even sweeter.

He said: "When you are 21 years of age, you think you have got 20 years left in you.

"But now you are coming towards the end and you are not too sure how many tournaments you have left in you.

"I will certainly cherish this moment more than I did 10 years ago. Being captain and to lead the team to a European Championships, it's something that doesn't happen very often."

Keane, keeper Shay Given, defender Richard Dunne and midfielder Damien Duff provide the link between the current Ireland squad and the men who went into battle in Japan and South Korea in 2002.

Keane and 32-year-old Duff in particular at that point represented the nation's future, and it is an illustration of just how long they have had to wait for another crack at the big time that they are now among senior men in the squad.

Keane said: "It's been a long time coming. We have been close on a few occasions and missed out.

"We have been playing since we were 17, 18 years of age. Ten years ago, we were the young lads coming through and Niall Quinn and Steve Staunton were sitting down at the back of the bus.

"Now it's me, Shay, Richie and Duffer sitting at the back of the bus, so I am sure all the young lads are saying, 'Look at all those old fellas back there'."

The same sentiment rings true too for Duff.

He said: "Possibly it means more to me than 2002. I'm obviously 10 years older, running out of time and maybe you think about things a bit more and appreciate things a bit more."

The success was all the sweeter because what happened in Paris two years ago, when Thierry Henry's unpunished handball led to the goal which ended Ireland's hopes of a trip to South Africa last summer.

Duff said: "There's a great bond and belief within the group in there, and it's grown, possibly, since France.

"Against France, we did well and should have got through, but 10 fold it has improved the spirit among the lads and the unity, so we always believed."

Keane, Duff and team-mates can now look forward to another adventure on foreign soil 24 years after Ireland last reached the European Championship finals.

For the LA Galaxy striker, whose seven goals in qualification proved so important, the task of leading his country out for the first game will be a source of immense pride.

He said: "I'm a very proud Irishman and to be captain of my country and to lead them to a European Championships is something I will take with me for a long, long time."