Giovanni Trapattoni will send his Republic of Ireland side out against Montenegro on Wednesday night warning them to take nothing for granted.

Ireland got their World Cup campaign off to a positive start with a 2-1 victory over Georgia in Mainz and will jet out to Podgorica tomorrow afternoon hoping to return to Dublin in the early hours of Thursday morning with six points safely banked in their Group Eight account.

While the Republic were making the most of Fifa's decision to order Georgia to play their 'home' game in Germany, Zoran Filipovic's men were only denied victory over 10-man Bulgaria at the death when substitute Blagoy Georgiev snatched a 2-2 draw.

That, coupled with Italy's narrow escape - they were under pressure at 1-1 in Cyprus deep into injury time when Antonio Di Natale scored a late winner - left the Irish in optimistic mood.

However, Trapattoni was quick to point to a series of surprise results around Europe as evidence that there is no room for complacency.

Asked if he was surprised by the draw in Podgorica, he said: "No, because Montenegro are a good team and they have good players.

"If you look across Europe, Italy scored in the last seconds, France lost against Austria...I have told the players, every game is very, very dangerous.

"But we should not underestimate ourselves. We shouldn't be arrogant, but we should believe in ourselves.

"We have to have heart and we have to have the right willingness and the right mentality, but we have good technique.

"We are not Brazilian, we are not Portuguese, we will stick to our style."

Trapattoni could have been forgiven for having mixed feelings over his native country's victory with the World champions the overwhelming favourites to top the group.

However, he insisted he was happy to see them win - for now, at least.

He said: "Remember, I am Italian. I have worked in Portugal and Austria and Germany and now I am happy working in Ireland - but I am Italian.

"It is important because I am Italian. I will be happy if they lose against us, okay, but now, no."

The difficulties Italy experienced in Larnaca provided further evidence, if it were needed, that Group Eight will be the scene of a real tussle for qualification.

Asked if his side could eventually come out on top, Trapattoni admitted there are too many potential pitfalls ahead to make bold predictions, but would not write off their chances.

He said: "You cannot look too far ahead. You could have injuries, red cards - there are many situations. But I think, why not? Never say never."

The 69-year-old Italian was back on the training pitch with his players at the Halberg Stadium in Taunusstein-Wehen this morning, although three of last night's starters - Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt, who have calf problems, and goalkeeper Shay Given with a knock - sat out the session.

Trapattoni is hopeful all three will be fit to train tomorrow in Germany before heading for Montenegro, but will take fatigue, and the threat posed by those members of Filipovic's squad he and his staff have singled out, into account before he decides on his team.

But as he looked back at his first competitive match in charge, the manager was even able to take positives from the injury-time goal his side conceded to Georgia.

He said: "I was happy because they (the players) must believe me because I told them that situation was dangerous.

"There's a saying in Italy - you have to crash into a wall to realise it is a wall."