Trapattoni sees writing on wall as Brazil tire out Ireland

Ireland, whose hopes of reaching the World Cup were ended last November when France controversially knocked them out at the play-off stage, suffered a 2-0 defeat in last night's friendly at the Emirates Stadium.

Trapattoni was left to rue another poor decision from officials in his side's first match since Thierry Henry's infamous handball in Paris, as Robinho looked offside when he set up the opener – an own goal by Keith Andrews – just before the break.

But after his team wore themselves out during an entertaining first-half, Trapattoni was quick to realise they would not last the distance and made substitutions to allow some of his star men a break. Robinho later added a second goal on an impressive return to England, following his recent loan move from Manchester City to Santos.

Trapattoni said: "We made two or three easy mistakes and gave them two great opportunities and they could have scored more.

"After 50 minutes it was clear it was not possible for us because we lost strength. It was clear they weren't fit enough to last 90 minutes. I wanted to rest the players who play in the Premier League, I'm thinking about my English colleagues as well. I knew we couldn't come back from the result."

"We saw 45 minutes of a very, very beautiful game," added Trapattoni.