Manager's Reaction: Giovanni Trapattoni set his sights on South Africa 2010 after his side launched their World Cup qualifying campaign with a victory over Georgia in Germany yesterday.
Trapattoni's men ran out 2-1 winners at the Bruchweg Stadium in Mainz to make the most of Fifa's decision to switch the game to a neutral venue because of the political situation in Georgia.
As he turned his attention to an equally tricky trip to Montenegro on Wednesday evening, the Italian had few doubts about his target.
He said: "We are not sure, but we are convinced we can go and qualify.
"It's too early to think about qualification, but success in an away game like this, on Wednesday we now have high spirits.
"Today I must be happy because I saw some good things in our mentality. All the players worked for the result and they are happy in the dressing room.
"They were happy, because they now believe."
Kevin Doyle's sixth international goal gave Ireland a 13th-minute lead, and they might have been out of sight before the Georgians briefly rallied.
Robbie Keane hit the post after the break, but the points were safe when goalkeeper Giorgi Loria spilled Glenn Whelan's 70th-minute effort into his own net to hand the Stoke midfielder his first goal for his country.
Levan Kenia pulled one back for the Georgians deep into injury time, but it was the Republic who deservedly emerged victorious.
Trapattoni said: "They (the players) were a little disappointed with the late goal, but it's a little detail like in the past.
"We cannot concede a goal like that, but the players were tiring."
Goalkeeper Shay Given was delighted to have launched the campaign with a victory, but was disappointed to have had a clean sheet wrenched from his grasp so late in the game.
He said: "We are delighted. It would have been nicer if we had kept a clean sheet.
"They got a late goal, but we would have taken that before the game, three points away from home, so we are very happy."
Given revealed Trapattoni sent his players out with only one mission, to make sure when they returned, they did so with the points safely banked.
He said: "He (Trapattoni) emphasised before the game that the most important thing was getting a result.
"We are judged on results and we have started with three points, so he has instilled that in us, and hopefully we will do the same on Wednesday night, when we have another big game."
Doyle, who might have won a deadline-day move to Tottenham earlier in the week, ended it in fine style with another goal to add to the hat-trick he claimed for Reading at the weekend.
He said: "It's amazing how quickly it changes. It's been a tough four or five months for me, but a nice last few weeks, and hopefully I'll keep it going.
"The win gives us a lot of confidence now and sets us up nicely for the game on Wednesday.
"If we can win in Montenegro, we will start the group on a flyer."
Trapattoni went into his first competitive game as Ireland boss having been criticised by one of his predecessors, Brian Kerr, for not watching his players in action for their clubs often enough.
However, he insisted he has worked tirelessly to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of the individuals within his squad.
He said: "I spent two or three months, I saw all the players in England play games. I know all the qualities of the players in this squad."
He added: "If Jack Charlton was criticising me, I would be happy because he's a winner."
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