The Irish suffered only one defeat en route to the play-offs, in which they dismantled Estonia away from home before drawing the home leg.

That reverse came at home against Russia, who outclassed the Irish on their own turf.

Ireland had started their campaign with six points out of six, winning away impressively against an improving Armenia before picking up the mandatory three points against Andorra.

Two wins over Macedonia, and another one each over Andorra and Armenia gave Ireland six wins from 10 matches. The only downside to the Irish campaign was their failure, again, to defeat a team rated higher than them in the Fifa rankings.

They drew twice, disappointingly, against Slovakia and were lucky to escape Moscow with a point.

Only once before have the Irish qualified for the tournament proper. That came in 1988 when Jack Charlton led the team to the finals in West Germany.

There they defeated England, drew with the Soviet Union and lost to the Dutch as they bowed out respectfully at the group stages.

Since then there has been play-off anguish against the Netherlands in 1996 and Turkey in 2000.

The Irish have fared badly in their last two qualification campaigns, finishing low down the pecking order, but have restored some pride with a fine run to these finals.

COACH - Giovanni Trapattoni
The trophy-laden Italian trainer has been dealt a fair deal of criticism by an increasingly fussy Irish public.

There is a widespread begrudging of the 73-year-old's preferred tactical methods and squad selections.

But that cantankerousness belies the fact that Trapattoni has just qualified Ireland for their first major tournament in a decade only two years on from being edged out of the World Cup 2010 play-offs by the slenderest of margins, when Thierry Henry's infamous handball helped France past the Irish.

Trap is not going to win any plaudits for the aesthetics of his style of play, which relies on a defensive steadfastness, a combative midfield and pace on the flanks.

Ireland are truly a reactive team rather than a proactive one but so long as they are taking their place in major competitions then Trapattoni can stave off the critics.

CAPTAIN - Robbie Keane
The Ireland No.10 comes up with the goals for his country when others simply cannot. Keane is dripping in international pedigree even if his club career has been quite muted in contrast.

Disappointing spells at Inter and Liverpool only serve to illustrate the dichotomy between Keane for country and Keane for club. But only two active players have scored more international goals than Robbie Keane; Stern John and Miroslav Klose, and only Hakan Suker and Jon-Dahl Tomasson have scored more in European Championship qualification campaigns.

He is the type of player who lingers on the shoulder of the last defender and bides his time in the penalty box to react first and plunders goals against all levels of opposition.

Now 31, the former Inter forward will not have many more international tournaments but the Irish will miss him when he's gone.