19 Quotes by Lars Lagerback

Every team in this situation would have done the same, I think we can go away from this match with our heads held high.

Practically, it is a done deal. If you said anything else, you would be lying. But at the same time we are not there yet.

Psychologically, it was important that we scored the goal. Then the players could relax but try to control the match. England also missed some good players.

Perhaps he stays in Italy and so learned from Machiavelli. We want to play to win this game. It's not a question of playing for a 2-2 draw so Italy will be out and to reach the second stage. We are going to play our game.

Of course you feel extra pity for Tommy ending with losing on penalties. In a way it's always easier to lose a game when the other team is better and you can accept it afterward. So it was pity for Tommy, an extra pity.

It's an important game for us, the first time all the professional players are called. Ireland has a good side with a new manager and will give us a great game. They will play a strong game and it's vital to us to have a good performance. The result is of secondary importance.

They are good opponents with a style of play like (our World Cup opponents) Trinidad & Tobago and Paraguay. It will be extra fun to give the crowd a completely new opponent, since we've never ever faced them before.

They will have some smaller problems to restart the competition. Perhaps it is more a question of mental fatigue.

I can assure the Italians that we will do absolutely our best and go out to win the match because anything can happen if you go out to play for a draw. We will be 100 percent concentrated.