Robbie Keane says that the Republic of Ireland must not let complacency slip in against Estonia on Tuesday evening.
The Irish skipper will lead his side in the second leg of their Euro 2012 playoff at the Aviva Stadium, safe in the knowledge that they begin the game with a 4-0 lead from Friday’s first leg in Tallinn.
With the whole of Europe pretty much having decided that the tie is over, and Ireland themselves having conceded just one goal in their last ten games, a party atmosphere is already rocking in Dublin ahead of the game. But Keane has warned that the players must make sure they complete the job in a professional manner, even if it looks completely done and dusted.
“Even though it would be a tragedy if we didn't qualify now, the job is still not done yet,” the LA Galaxy front man said at Monday’s pre-game press conference.
“We have to be professional and do the job properly.”
Meanwhile, Keane has confirmed that he turned down a plea from the Galaxy to return to America and prepare for Sunday’s MLS Cup final. The US club have joined the chorus singing that the Estonia tie is over and asked the former Liverpool and Tottenham man to be released by the Football Association of Ireland.
However, the Irish captain says that he was never going to miss Tuesday evening’s game whatever the first leg score and hopes he can be honoured by captaining the team all the way to confirmed qualification for the finals in Poland and Ukraine.
“They requested could I come back to LA but obviously the manager and myself and everyone have said ‘no’, because it's still halfway,” Keane added.
“They requested that I come back with the final on Sunday, but this could be one of the greatest moments in Irish history for me playing for my country, and to miss a special night - hopefully - like this wouldn't feel right.
“I am with the national team. It would be disrespectful to the players and everyone associated thinking that the job is one hundred percent done. We know in football anything can happen. They requested it and they were happy with what the manager and the Association said, so believe me, it's no problem.
“My country means everything to me. I would never not turn up. I have never done that in the past, and I can proudly say that.
“This is probably one of the proudest moments my footballing career -, to lead this team to where we are now and to achieve what we have achieved.”
Keane is a former Wolverhampton Wanderers man and a number of international colleagues currently play their club football at his old club. Two of them, Stephen Ward and Stephen Hunt also say that they will not be taking Estonia lightly despite the fact that Ireland are 4-0 up.
Ward said: "To come away with a 4-0 win going into the second leg was just amazing - mind-blowing.
"It was never going to be easy, but we did exactly what we went there to do, and we'll have to do the same job tonight."
Hunt added: "Any team that's qualified from Ireland has always seemed to have a good team spirit. We're pretty strong together."