Trapattoni aiming for Brazil — not France

Giovanni Trapattoni has said he knows nothing of reported interest in him from French club Montpellier, insisting that his only ambition is to take Ireland to the World Cup finals in Brazil in 2014.

Having dropped his efforts to court Diego Maradona, Montpellier president Louis Nicollin was believed to be keen on getting Trapattoni to replace Rene Girard, the current manager who will leave the club in the summer. But the Ireland boss dismissed the rumoured interest yesterday.

“I don’t read this,” he said. “I am happy to be here. Happy to go with Ireland to the World Cup in Brazil. I can’t stop your rumours as you write the newspapers. What can I do against rumours, you need rumours. For me, rumours is unbelievable. I am happy to be here and I wish to achieve this qualifying. Going to Brazil. That would be fantastic. I was there 30 years ago, playing against Pele.”