It says something of the impact made by Brian Kerr's Irish side against Holland on Saturday night that several of the outstanding performers were being mentioned in dispatches yesterday as transfer "targets" for a cluster of clubs, with the Scottish Daily Record leading with a story claiming Celtic, who had a representative at the game in Amsterdam, were eyeing Robbie Keane as a possible successor to Henrik Larsson.
Reports of this nature begin to look a little tenuous when, elsewhere, the reason given for Keane's possible departure from Tottenham is the desire of Jacques Santini, the French coach who will take over at White Hart Lane after Euro 2004, to replace the Dubliner with Nicolas Anelka.
Anelka, after all, was dropped from the French squad by Santini, the Manchester City forward later outlining what the coach would have to do before he would consider returning: "I want him to kneel down, apologise and then I will think about it".
So, talk of Keane leaving Spurs might be a little premature, not least because the club's new director of football, Frank Arnesen, has been quoted as saying he is intent on keeping the player for next season.
Similarly, the presence of Sunderland and former Republic of Ireland assistant manager Ian Evans at the Amsterdam Arena - and the Unity Cup in London - has led to speculation that the first division club has an interest in signing Alan Quinn, Alan Maybury and Mark Kinsella.
Quinn, who spent time on loan at Sunderland last season, has already had discussions with Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock about a move across the city from Wednesday, where his contract expired last month, but both Sunderland and Leeds United are now said to be showing an interest in the midfielder who impressed both against Jamaica in London last Wednesday and against Holland.
"I want my next club to be one which has plenty of ambition like myself," said Quinn, "I want to play at the highest level possible and go somewhere where things are in place to do well. Sheffield United have done well recently, you have to respect what they've achieved. I've spoken with Neil but there are some others in for me as well which has given me a lot of confidence."
Kinsella, who was released by West Bromwich Albion at the end of the season, has already been linked with a move to Derby, Leicester and Coventry, but Maybury, who has a year left on his contract with Hearts, had not, until now, been touted as a target for any English club.
The full back has started five of Ireland's last six games and while he may want to delete his display against Nigeria from his CV he was impressive against Holland.
Meanwhile, both Jason McAteer, who was released by Sunderland at the end of the season, and Paul Butler, relegated with Wolves from the Premiership, are said to be attracting the attention of several first division clubs, including Leeds, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Stoke.
Mick McCarthy has, once again, ruled out the possibility of him becoming South Korea's new coach, despite reports that he would be offered a £2 million-a-year deal to lead the team in to the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.
The South Korean football association is believed to have reduced their list of targets to four European managers, with McCarthy their number one target.
"There's only one thing I'm interested in and that's winning promotion with Sunderland," said McCarthy yesterday, dismissing any notion that he might be interested in the job.
