Robbie Keane's third-minute strike was enough to see off Colombia at Craven Cottage, although it took a solid defensive display, in which 37-year-old goalkeeper Dean Kiely starred, to keep the South Americans at bay.

Trapatonni said: "I am happy for the players because now in the dressing room, they are happy. They ran a great deal and they are tired, but they believe in our team, and that is important. They are happy because we are a team."

Ireland could hardly have got off to a better start when Keane's shot was deflected past keeper Robinson Zapata by defender Elvis Gonzalez.

But they had to weather a storm as Colombia bounced back, Kiely pulling off a fine save to keep out Juan Carlos Escobar's 30th-minute header and then reacting smartly to block first Falcao Garcia's shot and then Edixon Perea's follow-up in first-half injury-time.

However, they held firm and although Kiely had to save again from Edixon Perea after the break, they were rarely in any real trouble despite some slick football from the Colombians.

Trapattoni said: "Colombia deserved a goal because Dean Kiely made two or three very great saves, and they were very important.

"We were compact and worked very hard. All the players played at about 80 per cent, so we have another 20 per cent improvement in us.

"We made mistakes because sometimes we played too fast, but since we started working together, we have surely improved.

"I looked for our organisation. The team played with order. The result could have been 1-1 because Colombia deserved a goal, but our organisation was good."