If Ireland are to qualify for the World Cup by beating France in one of the most daunting stadia in football, their captain Robbie Keane must be as effective off the pitch as he usually is on it.

Tottenham striker Keane has scored 40 goals in 94 matches since his international debut in March 1998, and is one of only five members of Ireland's last World Cup campaign seven years ago likely to be involved at the Stade de France tonight.

It is important for Keane to knock France's defenders out of their stride. Yet his spiky, sparky presence in the dressing room is even more crucial to the prospects of Giovanni Trapattoni's side, who approach the second leg of the play-off with the odds against them after losing 1-0 in Dublin.

Keane has still to rediscover his very best form since rejoining Spurs following an unhappy six-month spell at Liverpool but a glance at the team's results after he returned to White Hart Lane illustrate the impact he has made.

Of the 28 matches the striker has played following his second debut' in a 0-0 draw with Arsenal on 8 February, Spurs have won 17, drawn four and lost seven.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp knew that Keane's chirpy demeanour would gee up a quiet squad and he is confident the 29-year-old skipper will have the same impact on the Irish tonight.

“You need players with character; it's not just about what happens on the pitch,” Redknapp said. “Robbie has scored his goals but he has also been very influential.

“He has been great around the place. You need people like him, bubbly characters with the personality to bring something extra. He will be very important for Ireland and he will genuinely believe they can win.

“France are the favourites, but I wouldn't rule Ireland out, even though it is a very tough game for them. I can certainly see them nicking a goal.”

Lassana Diarra, whom Redknapp signed for Portsmouth before selling him to Real Madrid for £20million last January, should retain his starting place in Paris, with Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, Arsenal duo Bacary Sagna and William Gallas and Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra also likely to be in the XI.

Diarra's was accused of insulting the Irish in a foul-mouthed rant after the final whistle at Croke Park on Saturday, something the former Arsenal and Chelsea man denies.

But former Charlton midfielder Matt Holland, another key player for Ireland during the 2002 World Cup, believes the row may galvanise Trapattoni's men.

“What went on after the final whistle will add a bit of spice, and there was enough in the first match to suggest that we can score,” said Holland, who won 49 caps between 1999 and 2006.

“Ireland created the two best chances at Croke Park, and France look vulnerable through the middle of their team.

“The most important players will be the senior ones, like Robbie Keane, Shay Given and Richard Dunne. Robbie is the captain and the talisman, as well as being the man most likely to come up with a goal when the team need one.

“Off the field, too, he is vital, as he has such a presence in the dressing room.”

Ireland can take heart from their record in their qualifying group, when they drew home and away with world champions Italy and stayed unbeaten in 10 games.

And, despite playing impressively for much of the first leg, France are nothing like as strong as the team that won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship two years later.

Even though Les Bleus have home advantage and an away goal in their favour, former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit warned his countrymen that the job is far from done.

“Some of the French players do not have much experience of playing high-pressure internationals, and opposition sides tend to enjoy performing at the Stade de France,” he said.

“For this reason, France need to be very attentive and approach this game as if they need to win it.”