Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni singled out defender Paul McShane for special praise after watching him play his part in Thursday night's 1-0 win over Colombia.

The Italian revealed the 22-year-old Sunderland man had been down after the error which allowed Serbia to open the scoring in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Croke Park.

However, he bounced back to help his side keep a clean sheet against the dangerous South Americans at Craven Cottage and win a pat on the back from the manager in the process.

Trapattoni said: "I said it would not be easy when Colombia counter-attack because they are fast and have much precision.

"They had a lot of space, but all the defenders and [keeper Dean] Kiely played really well. Paul McShane, I am happy for him because he was a little bit sad after the Serbia game.

"But I told him, 'You must play because you are strong, you are a defender'. Here he didn't commit the fouls he has in the past.

"He is more confident. With every game he is growing and he has more faith in himself."

Trapattoni was a happy man after seeing his players put into practice what he has been drumming into them on the training pitch in the last fortnight.

He later admitted that they had performed to perhaps 80% of their potential, but he was more than satisfied with their showing.

Robbie Keane's deflected third-minute strike - his 33rd senior international goal - was enough to win a keenly contested friendly and send the nation's fans into the summer knowing there is still a way to go, but with renewed optimism ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Trapattoni said: "It's important that our players believe. If I was a singer, I would have to sing; if I was a pianist, I would have to play the piano. Today I said to the team, 'We have to be a team'.

"In the last European Championship, Greece, not England or Italy or Spain, won it because they were the best team.

"If our players believe and we have a bit of luck, it is not always possible to win, but it is important that we don't lose."

Trapattoni's desire to win the game meant he used only two substitutes - opposite number Jorge Luis Pinto made six changes - with the first coming with just four minutes remaining.

However, he was unrepentant about his decision to introduce only Daryl Murphy and, for his senior debut, Wes Hoolahan.

He said: "Maybe if we had scored another goal, I could have changed other players.

"But it was important that we won and in a difficult match like this, I know it is not easier for a player to come off the bench for 10 or 20 minutes and pick up the pace of the game.

"I was worried we were going to concede a goal in the second half because they were individually very good.

"But we were very compact."