Kerr's Comments "I think I got ten years older in those last 20 minutes. I had seen Spain play and thought we could break them by playing to our strengths, which are not only hard work but also a lot more skill on the ball than we’ve been given credit for. There are nightmare conditions for our team - the heat especially - but we’ve got a fantastic defence and even if we’re going to be rated as the underdog again against Argentina, we’ve already achieved a fantastic thing for Irish football."

Captain's Call Thomas Morgan - "If anyone had told me two weeks ago that we could be in the last four, I would probably have laughed! But we’ve got a great atmosphere in the squad, everyone works for each other. We’ve improved our skills and our passing game a lot to adapt to all kinds of international opposition, and now we’ve got to face another tough test with Argentina."

This is it. The big time. It may be half nine in the morning back home, but that won't stop over a million people from tuning in on television. It's the World Cup Semi-Final, and it's that team with the daunting sky blue and white stripes - Argentina, managed by the constanly worried-looking Jose Nestor Pekerman.

And yet, despite the opposition, and the fact that Maradona, Batistuta and any other Argentinian of note from 1980 on has played in this competition, the better start and the first opportunity were both Ireland's.

On three minutes, a superb pass from Robert Ryan set up former Johnville starlet Alan Kirby, who forced an early save from Argentinian custodian Leonardo Franco. What a way to start a World Cup Semi-Final, and what a way to wake up Argentina from their slumbers.

Immediately, Scaloni sent a screamer flying a foot off target. The next generation from the land of Eva Peron and Ossie Ardiles were now in business. It needed an astute challenge form David Worrell to force Bernardo Romeo to flick a good opportunity wide on 19, having latched onto an excellent through ball.

Derek O'Connor, the Irish keeper who had performed heroics against Spain in the quarter-final was called on often in this contest, particularly when Serrizuela at the far post connected with one of the South Americans' eight first half corners. It was goal-bound, or at least it was until O'Connor somehow managed to push it away.

Time then for something out of the blue, and with barely a minute having passed after that certain Argentina goal, Thomas Morgan cheekily chipped Franco from outside the penalty area. Unluckily for the captain, it flew inches over.

Argentina continued their dangerous assaults on the Ireland goal, with O'Connor again impressing by smothering a magnificent thumping strike from the right boot of Pablo Aimar. It was a save that ensured that half-time would arrive without a goal being scored.

Then, nine minutes into the second half, it happened. Hoodwinking in a goalmouth scramble, Ireland went one-down. somewhere, amongst a forest of legs, Romeo connected and sent the ball hurtling past O'Connor. Immediately, virtually the entire Argentinian squad went to congratulate the scorer, not the first time someone called Romeo has been showered with kisses...

But still Ireland tried. Cummins had a good effort denied by Franco before Real Madrid's Cambiason once again tested O'Connor with a fierce left footer. Barely sixty seconds later, Argentina should have scored, and would have had it not been for what was surely the save of the tournament. Romeo was twelve yards out, and had picked his spot. With the ball heading for the bottom corner, O'Connor somehow managed to get down and stop what was a virtually unstoppable strike.

The final seven minutes saw three opportunities which were so gilt-edged, it was untrue. First, Stephen Hawkins sent a thumping header across and wide. Then on 86, an anything-but-duff cross from Damien Duff was volleyed over the top by sub Glen Crowe. Finally, with 88 minutes on the watch of referee Kim Young Joo, a tasty Alan kirby free kick was met by the head of Murphy, only for Franco to pull off a superb save of his own. and that was that, Ireland bowing out with a fight, but bowing out nonetheless.

It has been some run for the Irish under 20s, with the most remarkable team spirit shown in an international side. There were times when you would have thought that you were watching a club side, as if seemed as if this squad had been playing together all its life. Put that down to Brian Kerr, a fine club manager with St.Pats has now grown into a supremo of international class. Well done, you're all heroes!!!

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Action shots courtesy of TV3, Malaysia