Giovanni Trapattoni confident of World Cup qualification

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has admitted that he is confident he can take his side to the 2014 World Cup finals.

Ireland are currently fourth in Group C and are now aiming for a runners-up spot behind leaders Germany to gain a place in the playoffs.

Trapattoni believes that the rebuilding of the squad will help his side secure a place in Brazil, pointing at the introduction of the younger players into his side.

"We must win, it is the only option," said the Italian coach. "After Friday's performance and result, we can go into that game with more confidence than we had in recent games.

"We've rebuilt the team, remember. Nine of the men who started on Friday did not start in the Euros. Four of them - Marc Wilson, Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy and Ciaran Clark - weren't even in the squad.

"So we are coming again. In the past I got Ireland to the 2010 World Cup play-offs and then to the Euro finals. We can achieve this again."

Ireland face Austria in a key World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night in Dublin.