‘I think the draw was alright but we deserved to win’ – Giovanni Trapattoni

If last night’s game in Cardiff went to script for a pre-season friendly between two sides with a history of producing stalemates in these parts, Giovanni Trapattoni’s reaction to it was also true to form with the Italian happy with the draw but disappointed that his players had not managed to secure the victory he felt they deserved.

Chris Coleman, doubtless, saw things differently and neither of the managers of next month’s World Cup opponents are likely to have sleepless nights after watching a rerun of the game, but Trapattoni was right at least in suggesting that his side had created enough chances to score a goal or two.

“I think the draw was alright but we deserved to win,” he said, “because we had two, three or four opportunities to score. We had shots in the 23rd, 24th and 26th minutes and we were never really in any difficulty. We had chance also at the end so we could have won the game.”

Still, he suggested: "It was important to keep up our run of good results against a team like Wales which is good. Okay, they were missing (Gareth) Bale but they have other good players and it was important for us to start the new season without being beaten now when we are thinking already about the games against Sweden and Austria.

Scoring three
The Swedes are first up, of course, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic provided further evidence of the problems he can present when he's in the mood by scoring three against Norway.

Trapattoni declined to acknowledge it here but the Welsh generated enough half-chances of their own to lend weight to the fear that if the striker is firing on all cylinders in Dublin then John O’Shea and co could really get blown away.

“He’s a good striker, and we know that he can score goals but he is only one player,” insisted the Ireland manager. “What’s important for us is the team. We need to keep a good order on the pitch, to be well organised and balanced; that is our strength. We have that now, the players know to do what I ask of them; that when the other team has the ball we must all defend.”

If they apply themselves next month as they did in Stockholm, he believes, then they can cope with the Paris Saint Germain striker. "We must hope that we have no more injuries, though, because we need to have our best players for that game," he said.

Limped out
Shane Long limped out of this game with a back problem but there was nothing to suggest it will seriously affect him beyond the next day or so.

Paddy Madden is unlikely to be involved against the Swedes, though, despite a lively enough senior international debut here last night. The Dubliner put himself about and never looked at all overawed by the occasion but he will be one of those disappointed not to have scored, with one effort saved and another sent flying well over.

"Paddy is a little like Cox," said Trapattoni. "He is very quick although he lacks a little of the experience that Cox has. He will have opportunities I think although at the moment we have Long and Walters and other offensive players.

Young players
"This was a friendly where the result doesn't matter so much but we'll continue to follow him and know that if we need him he can be useful for us."

As for the other young players who Trapattoni is turning to more regularly now, the Italian said: “They showed their personality. From that point of view it was a good night for us and for them because the more they play with the national team the better it is for them and us.”

Chris Coleman seemed happy too. “It was a tough game but we expected that. We like to play from the back and Ireland don’t let you do that. We got a bit tired late on and they got the better of things as I was making changes but overall I think it was a good performance.

“I was happy with the fans tonight as well,” he said despite the FAW declining to confirm the size of a very small - less than 10,000 – attendance.

But one man who was not happy was centre half O’Shea: “I am a little bit disappointed. We had a couple of chances to win the game but it wasn’t to be.

“I will take the positives and I’ll take a clean sheet all day. “We knew coming here it was going to be the test we wanted,” added the Sunderland player.