Dunne: They've skill - we've spirit

Richard Dunne hopes that the Republic of Ireland's battling qualities and team spirit will be enough to overcome French flair in the 2010 World Cup qualification play-off.

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The Aston Villa defender admits that France will be clear favourites to progress over the two legs, but said that does not give them an automatic right to be at the finals next summer in South Africa.

Dunne said: 'They have some of the best players in the world. We know this weekend and Wednesday is going to be hard for us. They are the favourites to go through and for us it is going to be a tough battle.

'They are similar to Germany and Italy. When they need it, they usually produce. But it is our chance to get to a World Cup as well. It is all about us battling and fighting for each other.'

When asked by a French journalist what Ireland have going for them, apart from the Croke Park atmosphere and their fighting spirit, Dunne was quick and honest in his reply.

'That's about it,' he laughed. 'We have got the belief and France have got all the flair and the skill.

'We believe there is no one in the world that can match us for work rate and effort . and fighting spirit and Croke Park! That is the way we are.

'We have the likes of Robbie Keane and Damien Duff, who can do skills and different things, but as a whole we are a tough team to beat. That is basically down to the team spirit and the attitude of the players when we go on the pitch.'

Ireland are indeed a tough team to beat under Giovanni Trapattoni and were just one of five sides to go through the qualifying campaign unbeaten.

In praise of his veteran manager Dunne said: 'Every game we come over for he tells us what is going to happen and how we are going to win the game. So far he has been right on all the occasions and we have not had any setbacks in the group stages.

'We have become really organised and difficult to play against. We have come from a side that was probably losing too many games, to a side that is drawing games. It is an improvement. On Saturday, we will have to go one step more and start winning games.'

That unbeaten run in competitive games, which stands at ten, will face its stiffest test against a strike force containing such players as Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Karim Benzema.

'I, and whoever else is on the pitch, know that if we are not on top form we could be beaten easily,' admitted Dunne.

Despite the dangers posed by Henry and Co, Dunne is excited by the prospect of testing himself against some of the world's best front players.

He said: 'It is a game to look forward to. The whole atmosphere and the occasion is something to look forward to. Every player on both teams is going to be up for the game.

'I have a lot of respect for him (Henry), but that all goes out the window on Saturday. We have to get stuck in to him and make it hard for him.'

Assisting Dunne in the task of subduing the French attack will be international tyro Sean St Ledger, who has settled comfortably into international football since his debut in the friendly against Nigeria in May.

Dunne said: 'Sean has been great since he came into the side. He will often come over and ask myself, Kevin (Kilbane) or John (O'Shea) for a bit of advice. You tell him and he just gets on with it and plays his own game. So far he has done really well.

'He will have nerves, but so will everyone else on the pitch because of the occasion. The prize at the end of it is amazing, so it will be nerve-wracking for everyone.'

At 30, Dunne knows that his chances to appear in international football's showcase are limited, which has made him all the more determined to reach South Africa.

'Even if it is not (his last chance to play in World Cup), it is the chance to play in a World Cup. It is huge and I am really desperate to get there,' he acknowledged.

'The way the whole campaign has gone it will be a shame if we don't qualify. We have had critics for our style of play, but we have always been strong and determined. If we can do that this time, then we will have fully deserved to have qualified.'