Trapattoni hails Irish desire
Giovanni Trapattoni
Manager Giovanni Trapattoni praised the resilience of his Ireland team after seeing them secure their place at the Euro 2012 finals.
The 1-1 play-off second leg draw with Estonia in Dublin completed a 5-1 aggregate victory and ensured they will be playing in Poland and the Ukraine next summer.
The triumph came just a few days short of two years since their controversial World Cup exit at the hands of France, and Trapattoni said: "I am very, very proud for many reasons. We came here with an important objective. We have started the last campaign in a difficult group with Italy and then we had France, and we could have achieved qualification."
He added: "But we started again and we have discovered new important options in terms of players. They have shown how important they have been for us.
"We have improved our quality, like against Russia. We have started again with new mentality and the players believe in our system."
Qualification instantly installed the 72-year-old Italian as a new Irish hero as the nation prepared to decamp en masse to Poland and the Ukraine.
Asked if he understood the importance of what he had achieved to the country, Trapattoni said: "I like the Irish people. I live in a little village and it is like Ireland.
"For me, it is like my life in Italy. For this reason, I am proud. I understand what the Irish people wish for and for this reason, I am very, very happy."
