Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne has set his sights on qualifying for the European Championship finals in 2008 - because it could be his last chance of making an appearance in the finals of the competition.

Dunne was part of the Irish squad at the 2002 World Cup finals, but with Gary Breen, current Irish boss Steve Staunton and Kenny Cunningham sharing central defensive duties, he watched the entire competition from the substitutes' bench.

With disappointment the order of the day during the past two qualification campaigns, Dunne admits that the passage of time means he will be more determined than ever to help Ireland to the Euro finals in Austria and Switzerland in two years' time.

He told the Irish Daily Mirror: "It's probably my last chance to play in the European finals.

"I'll be 28 then, hopefully in my prime, and it's really important to me and to the other lads in the squad that we make the most of this. The next two years are crucial."