The 70-year-old is one of Italian football's most distinguished managers having gained a reputation both at home and abroad over a lengthy and successful career.

But he will set foot in his native country intent on ruining their charge towards World Cup qualification as his current charges attempt to upset the odds and keep the fight for automatic qualification from World Cup Group Eight alive.

Trapattoni said: "There is history and there are results. Yesterday, Italian television showed a documentary about my life, but it's results that matter.

"I know how to achieve results. I'm not a general with three or four stars, that's not me. I'm not interested, that's history.

"It's an honour for me to take Ireland to Italy.

"We can show them we are a good team with mentality, with order. Already in Italy, they say Ireland are a good team, a strong team, and that's not just because of me.

"In the international rankings, Ireland were deep down, but in Italy, they have respect for us.

"For me, I am proud. It's not like payback time or anything. I think we are a good team and we can play against Italy without fear."

The Irish and the Italians were locked together on 10 points before last night's latest round of matches.

But as the Republic conceded a late equaliser at home to Bulgaria, Marcello Lippi's men claimed a 2-0 win over Montenegro in Podgorica to ease two points clear at the halfway stage.

Had Ireland managed a fourth victory in five qualifiers, they would have headed for Bari's San Nicola Stadium knowing even a defeat would not be disastrous.

However, they are now very much aware that, even though they still enjoy a seven-point advantage over Bulgaria and Cyprus, who each have a game in hand, they could do with a point in either Italy or Sofia in June if they are to make sure they finish second in the group at worst and secure a play-off berth.

Trapattoni has long been regarded as a conservative coach, and his insistence during the current campaign that if his side cannot win, then they must not lose, has done little to alter that perception.

His approach to the Ireland job has been to identify a system and then stick to it, a policy which has been to the detriment of Andy Reid in particular, much to the consternation of some commentators.

Until now, results have provided the perfect retort to the critics, although last night's failure to build upon the perfect start Richard Dunne's first-minute goal gave his side prompted fresh questions over the Italian's blueprint for success.

With Damien Duff out injured and Aiden McGeady hampered by a foot problem, Ireland were able to provide little support for frontmen Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle, and their inability to retain the ball invited Bulgaria on to them.

Victory was finally snatched from the Republic's grasp with 16 minutes remaining when full-back Kevin Kilbane unwittingly turned Stiliyan Petrov's cross into his own net, and with Keane and Doyle both passing up late opportunities to win the game, two priceless points had slipped away.

However, Trapattoni remains adamant he will not - and indeed cannot - change the system because he does not have the players available to do so, and is bullish about his side's chances of qualification.

Asked about the implications of defeat in Italy, he said: "It doesn't worry us that we may lose because we have distance enough [to Bulgaria and Cyprus].

"But I always think we can win and we cannot lose. I don't think about losing.

"Why should we? We prepare to win."

Ireland trained at Malahide this morning without keeper Shay Given, although his absence with a leg injury was only precautionary, and winger McGeady, whose knee problem is a greater concern.