Trapattoni looking forward to playoffs
Trapattoni looks to the future
Also In The News
|
By inthenews. |  |
Sunday, 11, Oct 2009 01:44
By Darren Estwick.
Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is refusing to be too downhearted after watching his team throw away the chance of a historic win and instead is looking forward to the World Cup qualifying playoffs.
Trapattoni watched as his Irish side came within two minutes of causing one of the greatest shocks in their history by beating Italy in their evening match at Croke Park.
A late goal by Sean St Ledger was cancelled out by an even later strike by Italian forward Alberto Gilardino which effectively broke Irish hearts, but Trapattoni refuses to be too disheartened by what he saw as encouraging signs. Instead the Italian manager preferred to look ahead at the draw for the playoff's and all its possibilities.
Trapattoni commented: "For us it would be best to get a team we can beat. We could have Russia, Croatia, Ukraine, Portugal or Sweden, these are all strong teams. At the moment we have to accept whatever the draw will give us.
"We must think about the fact that we have just played a strong team in Italy. We can now have the confidence about the next games. We are now a strong team in Europe and across the world. People are now aware of Ireland."