Whelan: Let’s lift the nation

GLENN WHELAN has challenged his Irish team-mates to lift the mood of a nation beset by financial woe by beating Estonia and qualifying for the European Championship.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s side are odds-on favourites to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1988 after being drawn to play a side some 34 places below them in the world rankings.

But midfielder Whelan has highlighted a greater incentive for victory, as he believes the national side could provide a beacon for the country as economic worries dominate the news bulletins and unemployment stands at 14.5%.