Trapattoni to rely on old heads

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has hinted he has all but decided on his team for the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

The 69-year-old Italian will bring an end to his first fortnight spent working with the players when he sends them out against Colombia at Craven Cottage. Trapattoni has mainly been working with Ireland's younger players, but he admits that by the time the opening qualifier against Georgia comes around in September, it will be experience and not youth at the forefront of his mind.

He said: "I want to look at the young players, and this 15 days has been for that situation. But you cannot change five or six players in two months and play a qualifier because experience in qualifiers is very, very important."

Damien Delaney and Glenn Whelan, who made senior debuts in the 1-1 draw with Serbia at Croke Park on Saturday, will start again, and while Trapattoni may have a look at some of his emerging players when he makes his substitutions, the rest of the side has an experienced look about it.

"I don't want to change the whole team," he continued. "Maybe now I will look at one or two younger players, like Liam Miller or Glenn Whelan, and the same also with Damien Delaney."

"When we play in Georgia and Bulgaria, I need players with personality who know international football.

"The younger ones can give us power and strength, but experience in international football is very important."