YOU WERE NEGATIVE

STOKE star Xherdan Shaqiri admits he was surprised by Northern Ireland’s defensive instincts in Belfast.

Michael O’neill’s men failed to register a shot on target as a disputed penalty from Ricardo Rodriguez gave the Swiss a 1-0 advantage.

Ahead of tomorrow’s return leg in Basel, Shaqiri (above) said: “Northern Ireland will have to play more offensively in Basel. They have to score to try to get to the World Cup.

“In Belfast they played too defensively - they did not do enough to score. They will come to Basel and try to be more offensive but that will mean it is more open for us.”