Trapattoni impressed with performances of debut boys

AS the rows of empty seats made all too clear, this wasn’t the kind of game to get Joe Public excited but Giovanni Trapattoni will arrive back in Milan today a happy man after an evening that ticked all the relevant boxes.

The 3-0 win matched what had previously been the side’s most convincing win under his watch — against Algeria at the RDS last May — and with it came the added bonus of encouraging debut performances.

“I am happy with the situation,” said the Italian. “First, it was a good result and, second, it was important to see these two or three young players. Their performances I am happy with because they played well and with good spirit and they did what I wanted them to do.”