Former Republic of Ireland skipper Kevin Moran yesterday predicted that a successful conclusion to the current World Cup qualifying campaign could lead to another run of major championship finals for the Irish.

Moran, who was one of eight members of the Italia '90 panel in Dublin last night for a Guinness-sponsored celebration of that team's achievements just over a decade ago, said the experience of going to Asia next summer would be hugely beneficial to a group of players most of whom lack experience of playing at the very top level.

"A first finals is a huge learning experience," he said. "I mean we came close to qualifying in 1982 when Eoin Hand was manager and I always say that if it had happened for us then we could have kicked on from there and been regulars at finals from then on rather than having to wait until 1988 to make the breakthrough.

"Getting to the first one helps in a variety of ways," added the former Manchester United defender. "There's no greater opportunity for individuals to learn and the whole thing helps to bond teams together. But there's also the opportunity to bring other players in, fellas who look at you and say, 'yeah, I want to take my chance of playing in a World Cup'. There's no doubt as far as I'm concerned that it could be the start of something big."

While he believes the current squad has come a long way under Mick McCarthy, he remains unsure of whether they are quite good enough yet to make that major breakthrough. They are, he reckons "short a couple of players in certain areas", although he hopes they will be good enough to avoid the defeat against the Dutch in early September and to at least claim a place in the play-offs.

"I think even that should be regarded as a very good achievement for us because with Portugal and Holland in our group there aren't many people who would have given us a chance at the outset. And once you get into the play-offs you just don't know," he said.

"We've lost out at that stage on the last two occasions but it's not as if a group of players is going to sit down and think they've a poor record at that stage of the competition. I'm sure this group would be thrilled to get through and take their chances against whoever they got drawn against.

"Whatever happens, though, I think this team is moving in the right direction, it's been improving and there's a great deal of promise for the future again."