Keane to ´cherish´ Euro 2012 place

Robbie Keane has says the Republic of Ireland’s qualification for the 2012 European Championship is a ‘dream come true’.

Ireland drew 1-1 with Estonia in the second leg of their Euro 2012 playoff on Tuesday, sealing a 5-1 aggregate win and booking their place at next year’s finals in Poland and the Ukraine.

Speaking after the match in Dublin, captain Keane was dealing with the emotion of ending Ireland’s 23-year wait to reach another European Championship.

“It seems a bit surreal at the moment,” Keane said.

“In the dressing room the celebrations were great and at the end of the game with the fans, you could see how much it meant to them.”

“This is why we play football; to have moments like this and nights like this. The players won’t forget it and I’m sure the fans won’t.”

Ireland’s only previous appearance at the European Championships came in 1988, and they have not qualified for a major tournament since the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

That unhappy run came to an end on Tuesday, and veteran Keane was delighted it happened in front of a packed Aviva Stadium.

“To be in front of our home fans and in the new stadium with a full house and everyone singing at the end – it was like the old times,” he said.

“The old times are back and the players walking around the pitch, you could see how happy they were and how happy the fans were. You could tell with their great singing voices.”

LA Galaxy striker Keane believes he will value the experience of Euro 2012 more than the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea.

“For me it is a dream come true to be going to the European Championship after so long,” he said.

“Going to the World Cup was brilliant, but when you are young, 21 years of age, you think you have your whole life in front of you playing football.”

“But when it comes to the end of your career you have moments like this. I’m sure I will cherish this moment more than 10 years ago.”