IRELAND THUMP ALGERIA AT THE RDS

Ireland showed the rest of the world, once again, that they should be playing at this year's World Cup Finals.

Ireland played Algeria at the RDS on Friday night and easily emerged as the better team to follow up on their victory against Paraguay, who are also going to South Africa in June.

Trappatoni's Ireland started the game well, controlling possession and creating chances and a goal soon arrived for Ireland.

Derby midfielder Paul Green celebrated his second cap and his first start for his country with a goal when he dived bravely to head in Liam Lawrence's 32nd-minute cross, and Ireland rarely looked like surrendering their lead thereafter.

They doubled it seven minutes after the break through skipper Robbie Keane's cool finish after errors from Wolves defender Aldane Guedioura and keeper Faouzi Chaouchi, and the Tottenham striker might have completed a hat-trick before he finally did find the net once again.

Djamel Mesbah's trip on Keane handed him the chance to take his senior international goals tally to 43 from the penalty spot, and he duly obliged by sending substitute keeper Rais Mbolhi the wrong way five minutes from time.

Trapattoni, who had drummed into his players for the last week that the two games were all about preparing for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, was delighted with their response.

He said: 'If we play like we did against Paraguay and Algeria, I think we must achieve qualification for the European Championships.'

The fact that the most convincing win of the Italian's reign to date came with Green stating for the first time alongside 19-year-old debutant Greg Cunningham, the Manchester City full-back, was all the more pleasing.

Shame we won't be in South Africa.