Robbie Keane will line up for the Republic of Ireland against England on Wednesday night claiming the teams should have taken the chance "a good few years ago" to banish sorry memories of their last meeting.
The two countries have not played since February 1995 when rioting England fans forced the abandonment of the game at Lansdowne Road with the Republic leading 1-0.
A 14-year-old Keane was in the crowd that night and he understandably does not have fond recollections of the occasion.
He said: "I was a kid in the stand and I didn't think at this stage we would have a chance to play England.
"This is probably a bit long coming. To be totally honest with you, I think it should have happened a good few years ago, but for whatever reason, it hasn't happened to try to put to bed what happened a long time ago."
Heading into the match, Keane has told his Republic team-mates they will only be able to compete on the big stage if they learn how to deal with the best teams in the world.
The 32-year-old LA Galaxy striker will lead his country into the Wembley clash with the memory of last summer's poor showing at the Euro 2012 finals still fresh in his mind.
Croatia, eventual winners Spain and manager Giovanni Trapattoni's native Italy all made short work of the Irish in Poland and Ukraine as Keane and his colleagues found themselves on a steep and painful learning curve.
However, they will lock horns with their English counterparts for the first time in 18 years, with Keane confident that further exposure to some of the stronger sides in world football can only be of benefit.
He said: "They are very strong. They have so many players they can pick from - we don't have that luxury, to be honest with you.
"They have probably one of their best players out, Steven Gerrard, who is injured, but they have so many players they can just pick from any team in England.
"They are a very, very strong team, we are well aware of that. They have quality players throughout the squad, players on the bench and players who haven't been called up.
"They are a good side, but it's a good test for us. It's important for us to pit our wits against top 10 teams in world to see where we are.
"We know we certainly struggled in the Euros against the top teams, so it's important for us over the next few years or so to be playing against these stronger teams."
For all Keane admits England boss Roy Hodgson has a far stronger pool from which to pick than Trapattoni, his 123 senior caps to date have taught him that it is always dangerous to write off any Ireland team whoever the opposition.
Indeed, Keane insists they will run out at Wembley intent on securing a victory which he believes would be far from a giant-killing act.
Keane said: "It would probably be an upset, but I wouldn't say it would be a massive upset.
"We are coming here thinking we can certainly win the game. I know it's a friendly game, but you are still playing for your country and you want to win every game you are involved in.
"We are quite capable of coming here and winning the game. If people see it as an upset, so be it."
Ireland had not lost any of the four previous encounters with England before the 1995 match as they proved redoubtable opponents for their close neighbours, and the current generation is determined to extend that record.
Keane acknowledges that many of England's players are more used to the big occasion because of both their club and international experience, and that means they are relishing tomorrow night's game.
He said: "England are guaranteed mostly to qualify for every tournament, or they have done for a long time, so for them they are used to playing in these big games.
"For us, it comes every 10 years or so, so it's completely different for us.
"Most of their players are used to playing at Wembley and playing in finals, big Champions League games and playing in World Cups and European Championships, so it probably does mean more to us."
Keane made his name in England in spells with Wolves, Coventry, Leeds, Tottenham, Liverpool and West Ham before heading for the United States, and still has many friends around the country.
He would cherish what would be a famous win at Wembley, and he admitted he would not be shy in picking up the phone afterwards.
Asked if there would be anyone in particular he would be keen to talk to, he said with a smile: "No-one in particular. Obviously, I have got a lot of friends in England, so probably more so them than anybody else in the team."
Live radio coverage of England v Republic of Ireland on Game On from 19.00 on Wednesday 29 May on RTÉ 2fm and RTÉ.ie.
