Fifa president Sepp Blatter has admitted the late decision to seed the European teams heading into the World Cup play-offs was badly handled by football’s governing body.

Blatter, who is seeking to remain at the helm in Fifa for another term after 2011, said there will be changes ahead of the 2014 event.

"It should have been announced earlier. We are always learning, in 2014 we will make changes," he said today.

However, he added: "There are all the best teams (at the World Cup), if someone has missed out it is because they haven't deserved it."

The decision meant Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland side were destined to face one from Portugal, Greece, Russia or France, with the latter having been selected yesterday to line out in Croke Park on November 14th.

Slovenia, Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzogovina also suffered from the decision, despite all eight teams finishing second in their qualifying groups.

Blatter today announced his intention to remain as president, saying: "I have not finished my mission in soccer, I need more time. I hope that in 2011 the Fifa Congress has further faith in me, otherwise I'll go back to my village.

"Football is my life," the 73-year-old added in Gazzetta dello Sport.

Ideas to improve football include the trial of extra officials to monitor the penalty box in the Europa League and Blatter's six-plus-five plan to increase the number of homegrown players at clubs, which is opposed by the European Commission.

The controversial Swiss has held his position since 1998 when he took over from Joao Havelange.