PARIS (AFP) - Manager Brian Kerr vented his frustration here at the term 'fighting spirit' which for so long has been employed to sum up the Ireland team.
Kerr, speaking on the eve of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against France, insisted: "We've gone past that stage now, any team has fighting spirit. For years now Ireland have been playing good technical football - let's move on a little please."
Kerr had just supervised a training session at the Stade de France where Saturday his side fight out a tough Group 4 battle with the 1998 world champions.
But with up to 30,000 fans (a huge figure considering Ireland's homeground at Landsowne Road holds less than 40,000) expected to cheer them on, no injury concerns to any key players, and France experiencing a painful period of transition there has never been a better time to play les Bleus.
But with Ireland's last win here back in 1937 Kerr is under no illusions.
"Is this a good time to play France? The best time would be if they were out of the competition and we were in. It's always daunting to play a team with such tradition and technical ability."
Kerr is keeping his final team selection a closely guarded secret but four certain starters are Roy Keane, playing in his third international since being rehabilitated in the side after his 2002 World Cup walk-out, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, and Clinton Morrison, who has scored in both of Ireland's qualifiers so far this year.
Charlton's Matt Holland has faced a race against time to recover from injury but the fact that he flanked Kerr and goalkeeper Shay Given at Friday's press conference suggests he may well start.
"Matt's fit enough to play but I'm not naming my team yet," said Kerr.
Holland himself tried his best to influence the man sitting on his right.
"I'd love to play," he smiled turning to face his boss. "I'm not used to being out for such a long period - it's been very frustrating."
Given joined up with the squad in Paris on Thursday direct from Newcastle where his wife is expecting their first child but despite his baby's imminent arrival he said he was fully focused on keeping Thierry Henry and company at bay.
"This is a big time in my life having my first kid but I've been training in Newcastle and I'm up for this game," said the Newcastle keeper.
Kerr meanwhile said he was not surprised at the massive support due from the stands.
"Paris isn't that far away and the fans have a lot of money saved up after we didn't make it to (Euro 2004) Portugal!
"And a lot of the men will have promised their wives a weekend in Paris and there's no better time than now.
"There are only three players who aren't familiar to me in the France team but they'll all have played together at different times, perhaps in the Under 21 teams so I don't think it's an issue that they haven't been together that long - they're good players in a good team. I don't fear any of them - I respect them."
Asked if he'd be happy before the match to take a draw he replied: "It'd be great to be offered a point, but you've got to play the match and try and earn it. Sometimes you get more than you deserve."
Ireland's record under Kerr is outstanding with 12 wins and only two defeats. Hopes are high come late Saturday night that the first figure given will be revised to 13.