Giovanni Trapattoni urged Ireland fans to keep the faith after his team lost their way against Croatia on their Euro 2012 debut in Poland on Sunday night.
Trapattoni was critical of the referee and his officials after the 3-1 defeat to the Croatians but he refused to blame his own players.
He also disagreed when it was suggested that Ireland’s European Championship campaign is now effectively over.
World Cup champions and Euro 2008 winners Spain are next up for the Irish who cannot afford to get anything less than a draw from Thursday’s game in Gdansk.
Even with that, they will then need nothing less than a win against Trap’s native Italy in Poznan on Monday week to make it through to the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the first Group C game in Poznan on Sunday night, Trapattoni was critical of the decision to award the crucial second goal, scored by Everton striker Jelavic, just before half-time.
Trap said: “I cannot now speak of the referee or the situation. I told him after the television replay that the goal was two yards offside.”
He added: “We did not play as well as we have done in a lot of our games.
“The first goal was a mistake by us and psychologically we were inferior after that goal.
“I now have to analyse what went wrong and decide if I have to make changes.”
Even with Spain and Italy to come, Trapattoni insisted: “We have to believe we can do something in these games.
“Every game in these championships can result in a surprise.”
They dominated the first [half], they had more possession, we were inferior in midfield.
“I think the first little mistake, [we were] too slow to come out of the box and the goal put us in a very bad situation, psychologically.”
“Now we are only one point behind Italy and Spain...obviously, we [have to] look about winning against Spain or Italy,” he added.
6 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.sirpeter | Jun 12, 2012, 12:48 PM EDT
Oh!!Sweet Jesus.I should have just read the article.Trapattoni is a good manager and is doing the best he can with the players he has.Qualifying for the European Football Championship finals is a huge achievement in itself considering all the European countries who failed to qualify.There is nothing embarrassing about been in the last 16 nations out of 51 European nations.Ireland is ranked 18th in the FIFA world rankings out of 206 countries.Ireland is bound to look weak and need a lot of luck to advance further at this level.Spain is ranked number one in the world.Croatia is ranked 8th and Italy is ranked 12th.What's fu*king wrong with ye people??.
carrickcourt | Jun 11, 2012, 02:05 PM EDT
I only caught the last 15 minutes of the second period. Ireland was just outplayed by Croatia. Ireland will need the 'luck of the Irish' against Spain.
PhlutiePhan | Jun 11, 2012, 12:59 PM EDT
There is no joy in Mudville. Mighty Casey has struck out. The so called offside goal was legit because an Irish back in trying to clear kicked it right to him. Given really looked out of shape. The goal that hit him in the head and bounced in was an embarrassment. St. Ledger's goal was legit. Andrews had many the chance and misfired on them all. Agreed that the team was beaten to most balls and really looked unfit. In my opinion, Duff was the number one player on the pitch for both squads. Time and again, he would trick the Croats on the right and then loft one into the middle with his left foot to be misfired on time and again. In one instance, Keane was marking one of the Croat stars at the defensive end line. Huh! Using your offensive star on defense does not appear very wise. The team needs to do some heavy soul searching and then consider giving the team to Roy Keane.
dublinguy | Jun 11, 2012, 12:50 PM EDT
that whole team should be ashamed of themselves for putting that useless attempt on the field,they all looked like they were all hung over, so slow to react to anything, i think any league of ireland team would have put a much better effort in.
greensod | Jun 11, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT
Trapattoni,should be ashamed of himself for putting a team like that on the field,and to add insult to injury,blaiming the ref.The team was not game fit,beaten to every ball in the air and on the ground,with a goalkeeper rolling around in the goals like a beer barrel that fell off a truck.He needs the sack now.Who the hell is he kidding talking about keeping the faith against Spain and Italy,is he blind, stupid or both.He looks more game fit than any of the players he put on the field.Keane could not even finish the game.Big Jack must be sick watching this clown destroy what he worked so hard to build.
GeorgeDillon | Jun 11, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT
This guy Trap's got to go.