Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill praised the defensive effort of his team in the 0-0 draw with Denmark and says his team are making progress.
With just one win in nine outings in 2018 and a fourth successive game without a goal, O’Neill tried to draw on the positive in Aarhus which saw Ireland conclude their Nations League campaign without a win.
"We were very strong defensively, as we probably had to be," he told Sky Sports.
"Overall, in terms of creativity, maybe not completely there, but I thought the commitment was absolutely excellent against a very strong Danish team.
"In the competitive games we've played this season, I think that might have been our eighth debutant, and the players are getting used to playing with each other.
"The players are bedding in, young players coming on. This is international football, this is a massive step up for a number of our players, but they are trying to adjust.
"We are making progress. The young players will come through, and hopefully with a little bit of guidance by some of the senior players and all of us round about it, they can be ready in a few months' time."
Michael Obafemi was called into action off the bench with 10 minutes remaining for his competitive debut, but again Ireland looked desperately short of attacking ideas and have now gone 397 minutes of football without a goal.
"I think we will learn far more by playing tough opposition"
O’Neill argued this was in part due to the calibre of opposition his team have faced over the past 12 months.
"It's certainly been tough (this year)," he said.
"We have played five friendlies, but we haven't chosen easy friendlies. We've never done that.
"We've tried to play the hard games as much as possible. I think we will learn far more by playing tough opposition."
Asked whether he still retained the necessary hunger for the role, the 66-year-old was unequivocal: "I think in my professional playing career and in my managerial career, I don't think I could have won the things that I won as a player and manager if I didn't have that drive and enthusiasm."
