But he knows they will need to show more cutting edge going forward when their Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Slovakia and Russia comes around next month.

The 0-0 draw at the Aviva Stadium was in many ways a creditable result for the Republic, who were facing a team ranked ninth in the world and with a first XI which included Tottenham trio Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka.

The goalscoring chances the hosts created were few and far between though, and Trapattoni wants his attack to show greater potency in the qualifying games on September 2 and 6, when Ireland play the two sides they are currently locked together with on 13 points at the top of Group B.

"When the players are incisive we can make a difference. In qualifying we have to do this," the Italian said.

The Republic went into the contest with Croatia having won their previous four fixtures without conceding a goal, and referring to the latest shut-out, Trapattoni said: "I am happy for this.

"Before the game, when we prepare, I repeat the same lesson because when I was first here, two or three little situations were changing our results.

"The team has improved very much in these situations."

Although generally sound in defence, Ireland did appear lucky not to give away a penalty in the first half as clumsy challenges in the box by Glenn Whelan and Stephen Kelly went unpunished.

Asked if felt the Irish had been fortunate in that respect, Trapattoni said: "I don't know - if I had a television replay I could confirm or not. The referee let it go and he was near enough."

Croatia boss Slaven Bilic certainly felt one of the incidents should have yielded a spot-kick.

"We were controlling the game in their half, and with a little bit of luck or with a little bit more concentration in the last part of the pitch, we could have won the game," Bilic said.

"If you add the penalty - which was obvious - for us in the first half, I think that we are the ones who should have created a result."

A succession of players pulled out of Trapattoni's squad due to injury in the build-up to the match, and the 72-year-old is not confident striker Kevin Doyle - who withdrew on Tuesday - will be available for the clashes with Slovakia and Russia.

Overall, though, he is feeling positive about the options at his disposal and the progress Ireland are making.

Trapattoni said: "With our quality and attitude now, I ask the team only this - to remember what we have done over the last few months."