Ahern congratulates Irish team

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has congratulated the Irish football team on its qualification for the knock-out stages of the World Cup finals.

Speaking in Dublin after the game this afternoon, Mr Ahern said: "There’s only four million of us . . . It’s a great, great achievement for the country to get through the group that we got through, first of all in qualifying and now to get into the second round unbeaten."

Ireland booked their place in the next stage of the finals with a 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Yokohama. They will now go on to play the team that tops Group B, with Spain the most likely opponents.