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Giovanni Trapattoni believes Ireland can still qualify for Rio 2014. ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

Trapattoni pleased with young players and confident Ireland are back on track

The Italian dismissed further speculation on his coaching future and proclaimed ‘a golden goal’ for Marc Wilson.

IRELAND MANAGER GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI dismissed speculation about his future in the job after witnessing his side defeat the Faroe Islands 4-1 in Torshavn.

The Italian was delighted with the performance of many of his team’s newer players and feels Ireland are just one point worse off, after three matches, than he would have hoped.

James McCarthy of Wigan won the sponsor’s man-of-the-match award while Seamus Coleman was assured at right-back and Stoke’s Marc Wilson scored a fantastic goal to make it 2-0.

He told RTÉ, “All the team play well but especially McCarthy, Wilson and Coleman. It was very, very important, this.”

Speaking about Wilson’s goal, the manager commented, “I said this was a golden goal. A fantastic goal.

“We were confident that we could better (at half-time). We started well but after 20 minutes we lose our (momentum).”

Comfort in possession

There was a 10-minute period of serious concern for the Irish team after the Faroe Islands grabbed a headed goal to make it 2-1 but Trapattoni was pleased with his players and the way they upped the tempo while retaining possession.

He insisted that the team was still in a good position to qualify for the World Cup next year. Trapattoni declared:

I said maybe we could be missing one point, from the (failure to) draw with Germany but Germany is strong. This is a good table (for us).”

The 73-year-old said he was aware that there was speculation surrounding his future as Ireland manager but his focus since the 6-1 defeat to Germany on Friday was to prepare his players for their game tonight.

When he was asked what he would think if the FAI were to select another manager to lead Ireland in the World Cup qualifiers, he said ‘No problem’ to sign off the interview.

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