Tardelli defends Trapattoni's tenure

Marco Tardelli has insisted Giovanni Trapattoni would happily extend his stay as Republic of Ireland boss if given the opportunity.

The 74-year-old Italian woke on Sunday morning to newspaper headlines speculating over his successor – former Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill is the bookmakers’ favourite – in the wake of Friday night’s World Cup qualifier defeat by Sweden, which left Ireland’s hopes of making it to Brazil next summer hanging by a thread.