No fears for O’Neill’s men
NORTHERN IRELAND qualified for the World Cup play- offs before a ball had been kicked in Oslo on a night when all the drama was in Ljubljana. Scotland’s failure to win in Slovenia an hour before kickoff here meant Michael O’Neill’s side were guaranteed a place as one of the eight best group runners-up.
Northern Ireland are unlikely to be seeded when the draw is made in Zurich a week tomorrow in the wake of a second Group C defeat in the space of four days, after Chris Brunt scored an own goal at a half-empty Ullevaal Stadium last night.
But that should not detract from the fact they are 180 minutes away from a first World Cup finals since Billy Bingham’s boys in 1986.
They should be at full- strength for the first leg after all six of the players who were on a yellow card — captain Steven Davis, Jonny and Corry Evans, Oliver Norwood, Josh Magennis and Stuart Dallas — avoided a second booking that would have seen a one-match ban.
‘Having got the news that we’d done enough before kick-off, it was important to get through the game and not lose anyone to suspension,’ said O’Neill.
‘For a country of our size, we have to enjoy this. We will make life extremely difficult for whoever we get in the play- offs. The players know what the challenge will be, but there’s no fear. Whoever we get in the play- offs, it will not be as tough as playing Germany.’
After losing to the world champions on Thursday, Northern Ireland were beaten by a 71st-minute goal here. Conor McLaughlin was hurt in a challenge with Stefan Johansen, who got away down the left and clipped a cross over keeper Michael McGovern at his near post.
The Northern Ireland No 1 tipped the ball towards Brunt, who tried to clear it off the line with the outside of his left foot but instead turned the ball into the roof of the net.
The play-off promises to be a more competitive affair. And no one will relish facing Northern Ireland now.