Yokohama reaction: What the players said after yesterday's 3-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

"It wasn't a night that would suit goalkeepers. I had no grip on the ball in the first half at all. It was like there was a coating on it. It was like a bar of soap and I has some sympathy for their goalkeeper with the third goal because I can see how he let it slip.

"We had two planes booked, one to Dublin and the other to Korea, but now we're off to Korea. The lads are all buzzing. We can't wait to get to Korea."

- Shay Given

"As per usual (I've been) kicked around a bit. I've been getting that every Saturday all year, so nothing new. Doesn't bother me really. I had a feeling for the past week or so, for the past few months even that I was going to score in this game, so glad it went in, even if it was a bit lucky.

"I enjoyed being on the left in the second half I must say. Got a lot more space, a lot more of the ball, but the most important thing is to get through.

"I don't know what sort of celebration I had after the goal, you just go mad don't you? The most important thing was the team."

- Damien Duff

"Niall made the space for me; I've come running in and I managed to get a good contact on it. Good to see it go in ... - we got the early goal and we struggled after that. I don't know if we were a bit apprehensive or what but we didn't really play our best game, our normal game. I don't know why."

- Gary Breen

"Yeah the early goal helped them more than us. We sat back and they came at us and caused a few problems. I think that was nervousness. It's the first time we've gone into a game as favourites knowing what we needed to get. We settled down after a while though. Few words from the gaffer at half time, a little bit of tension. We worked hard to get here and we didn't want to throw it away."

- Mark Kinsella

"Mixed emotions. Glad to get a run. It's been a tough time sitting out and watching. I understand and it's water under the bridge now. I was itching to get on. Mick made the decision to get on and it went well. I was tiring a little bit, maybe, but sometimes when you've a bee in your bonnet and things to prove, you maybe feel out of the ordinary."

- Jason McAteer

"Funny old saying, you never beat us, we keep going. Three times we've been here and three times we've made it through the group. It's an achievement.

"Coming out of group with the Germans the African champions and tonight Saudi Arabia, we knew it would be tough."

- Steve Staunton

"There you go, nobody thought we'd get two goals and we got three. Brilliant. I don't know if we'll have South Africa or Spain now. The boys are over the moon, there's a few injured soldiers along the way, but we'll be fine.

"When we scored it went dead. Nervous night all round. We didn't really enjoy it. Normally we like to be the underdogs and tonight we weren't. So against Spain or whoever we can relax again and take it to them.

"Not really a rollicking (from Mick McCarthy at half-time). He said there were a few things wrong, we got going again then in the second half. We got another and then the last one - bit of a mistake (by the goalkeeper).

"Always have the options of bringing Niall off and putting Duffer (on the wing). Ian (Harte) is a little down, he's carrying a little knock but we're all in it together, there's 22 of us."

- Gary Kelly

"I wanted one last game, one last look. You don't know if it will be the last time looking up at that Irish crowd. You can't bottle the feeling but you can make the most of it. I'm delighted I'm playing for Mick McCarthy.

"I've missed a chance or two but I'm getting stuck in and it's a wonderful feeling. It's a million miles away from the politics of it all. That went on earlier. It's a wonderful feeling knowing your family are up there in the mass of support we have. I promise you. It doesn't get any better than this."

- Niall Quinn

"It was a different type of pressure this evening because we were expected to win. We didn't play particularly well in the first half but I think it was a good sign that we still came in a goal up. Who knows what would have happened if we'd come in with the game still at nil nil.

"I wouldn't say that anybody is going to be scared of us but maybe they'll pay us a bit more respect than we've got in the past. I think we've earned it."

- Steve Finnan

"It was always going to be tough, they were never going to roll over. What did Mick say at half-time? You better ask him. The change worked. We weren't really struggling but Quinny came on and did really well again, so it's worked out."

- Lee Carsley