Richard Dunne could hardly be less interested in the cash windfall qualification for Euro 2012 would bring himself and his Republic of Ireland team-mates.
Giovanni Trapattoni's players will reportedly share a bonus of 4million Euros - around £3.4million - if, as expected, they complete a play-off victory over Estonia at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow night.
However, when the final whistle sounds, he 32-year-old Aston Villa defender insists his bank balance will be the furthest thing from his mind, saying: "We all make enough money at our clubs and playing for Ireland is an honour, it's not about money."
He added: "The whole country will benefit from it and the main thing is having the pride. Going out and playing in the finals is all that matters to the players.
"There's nobody in the world who can give you £3million or £4million, and you finish third in your group. It's of no benefit to anyone.
"Footballers want to play in tournaments and this is a really big tournament. To go and represent Ireland in it is going to be something that money can't buy."
Dunne is one of the few members of the current squad to have been to a major tournament, although he did not play at the 2002 World Cup finals, the last one for which they qualified.
His hunger to address that gap in his curriculum vitae is therefore understandable, and he added: "I would love to. It's probably the pinnacle of the game.
"Apart from the World Cup, the European Championships is as high as you can play in, so to have the opportunity to play against the top sides in a competition, it would be a very proud moment for us all.
"It's pleasurable for all of us. We all have to savour the moment because the likes of myself and Shay [Given] and Damien [Duff] and Robbie [Keane] know it doesn't come around very often and it may not happen again for a few of the lads."
Source: PA
