Euro 2012: Ireland defeats make me determined to qualify for World Cup, insists Trapattoni

Players consider their future after disappointing campaign as manager focuses on qualifying for Brazil.

Giovanni Trapattoni shouts at his players during Euro 2012.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni insists the side's disappointing Euro 2012 campaign has only made him hungrier for to qualify for the World Cup finals in Brazil.

Ireland bowed out of the tournament with a 2-0 defeat by Italy, after goals from Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli. But their pride was restored after producing their best performance in Poland to hold Cesare Prandelli's men to a single-goal lead until the final stages when Keith Andrews was also sent off.

Trapattoni said: "In my life, I have had many successes and been the manager of great teams. I have always had the habit of winning and not losing and when I lose, I don't sleep at night. I think about if I have made mistakes. After the Croatia and Spain games, I would like to have immediately played the game again, but (here) I think we played a good game."

The Italian added: "The willingness is there to come back with fresh energy and a new squad to do better, and I can't wait for the new season to start."

"I am proud of our commitment. Italy beat us, but we gave them our honour, our commitment and maybe we deserved a little bit more."

With Ireland's tournament now over, several of Trapattoni's senior players are understood to be considering their international futures, and the manager admitted some discussions had taken place.

He said: "I spoke just now with one or two and we will see again ahead of the next friendly in August. Maybe at this moment, they are disappointed and I will speak to them later. I understand their disappointment because we had hoped to do better, but I have nothing to reproach the players for."

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli will now start to focus on the quarter-finals after seeing his side qualify in second place following Spain's 1-0 win over Croatia in Gdansk.

He said: "I didn't set any targets to start with. I wanted to have a team that would improve game after game and a side that can play football.

"Sides that play football can always go quite far in tournaments. If it's just down to results, perhaps you can get there for a while, but in terms of European Championships, if you want to do well, you have to be a good football side."

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