Richard Dunne says that qualifying for the finals of Euro 2012 is a prize that money could simply not buy.
Dunne and his Republic of Ireland team-mates are 90 minutes from confirming their place in Poland and Ukraine next summer, though only the most optimistic of Estonian supporters will suggest that their side can overhaul the 4-0 advantage the Irish accrued in Friday’s first leg.
Qualification on Tuesday would bring Ireland’s long-suffering players a shared €4million bonus, but Dunne – a colossus more than once for Giovanni Trapattoni’s team over the course of this campaign – regards that fact as insignificant.
As far as he is concerned, the honour of reaching the finals and getting to represent Ireland and the team’s loyal supporters in them far outweighs any monetary gain.
"We all make enough money at our clubs and playing for Ireland is an honour, it's not about money," Aston Villa’s Dunne said after training on Monday.
"The whole country will benefit from it and the main thing is having the pride. Going out and playing in the finals is all that matters to the players.
"There's nobody in the world who can give you €3million or €4million, and you finish third in your group. It's of no benefit to anyone.
"Footballers want to play in tournaments and this is a really big tournament. To go and represent Ireland in it is going to be something that money can't buy."