Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelean says the Republic of Ireland players believe they can qualify automatically for Euro 2012.

The Irish (6/4 to qualify) kick off their qualification campaign in September in a bid to put the heartbreak of their World Cup play-off exit to France behind them.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s men got their build-up to the qualification campaign underway on Tuesday night when they faced Brazil (5/1 to win the World Cup) at the Emirates Stadium.

Despite holding their own in the first half Ireland came unstuck just before half time when Keith Andrews put through his own net before Robinho added a second after the break.

There were plenty of positives for Ireland to take out of the game as they more than held their own against one of the favourites for the World Cup for an hour and against a lesser side Trapattoni’s team would have probably gone on to win the game.

Ireland (3/1 to win Group B) have two further friendly matches scheduled before the start of Euro 2012 qualification and Whelan says everyone is keen to avoid the play-offs by finishing top of their group.

“It is a big thing now about moving on and we are trying to put the France situation behind us,” said Whelan.

“We do not want to get in the play-offs again, we want to qualify straight away.”

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