Trapattoni still adamant Ireland can qualify for Brazil 2014

Despite conceding a 93rd minute equaliser against Austria in the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night, Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is still confident that his side can make it to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Ireland went behind early on in the game courtesy of a Martin Harnik goal but, thanks to a penalty and then a header from Jonathan Walters, Trapattoni’s side went in 2-1 up at half-time. However, a 93rd minute strike from David Alaba earned Austria a share of the spoils and put in jeopardy Ireland’s chances of making it to Brazil.

But, speaking at a post-match press conference, Trapattoni believes that his side can still qualify. “We have the same table. There is no change in the situation. We have a match against Sweden, we have a match against Austria, Kazakhstan, the Faroe Islands and Germany. It starts now, the qualifying, it starts now.

“We need to learn from a situation like this [conceding a late goal] and make sure it does not happen in the next game. That comes with experience, because we had three of four players on the pitch that were young. I believe in this new evolution. We have players like Coleman and McCarthy who are always growing. We have more opportunity to grow again, with confidence.”

Trapattoni felt that tiredness towards the end of the game led to the Austria equaliser. “The whole team spent a lot of energy. Long and Sammon were tracking back and helping the midfield to win the ball.”

The Italian was of the opinion that his side were overrun in the midfield in the second half. “In this moment they were superior in midfield. We spent a lot of energy and in the second half we went a little bit down.”

Although Austria were dominant in possession in the second half and eventually got the equaliser that they probably deserved, the 74-year-old felt that his side were unlucky. “The goal was a deflection. I think I can say now that we’ve been a little bit unlucky this evening. Just a little bit because the game was quite even.”

It wasn’t until the 83rd minute that Trapattoni made a change in the midfield by bringing on Paul Green for Shane Long. This was a defensive ploy to allow Green to break up the play in the midfield and hold back the Austrian onslaught.

“To turn around a 1-0 scoreline we spent a lot of energy. That gives them the opportunity to counter-attack. And they are very quick in the counter attack and with a lot of precision.”

When questioned on why he withdrew Shane Long and not Conor Sammon, Trapattoni said it was a case of physicality. “For physicality. We need also another to defend corners. Sammon is also one of the four who jumps to clear corners. Shane Long played very well but he needs support from the team.”

The press conference finished with the inevitable question of whether or not Trapattoni feels he will still be Ireland manager in June (when the next qualifying game is). His reply was, also, quite predictable: “Why not? We are in the same position as we were before the day of the game.”