Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
MICHAEL O’neill is targeting a Prague pick-me-up after shaking off the hangover of Thursday’s painful Euro 2020 defeat in Rotterdam. The Netherlands’ last gasp 3-1 win at De Kuip Stadium delivered a hammer blow to Northern Ireland’s hopes of automatic qualification.
And while O’neill had Ronald Koeman in his crosshairs last night after the Dutch boss branded his team’s display “terrible to watch”, his focus is now firmly fixed on tonight’s friendly fire at the Generali Arena.
A positive result against a Czech side who stunned England 2-1 in Euro qualifying on Friday night would lift spirits ahead of higher profile tests to come.
Lying on the horizon is next month’s concluding Group C double header against the Dutch and Germans and a potential Euro play-off in March. “How we lost in Rotterdam was very cruel and we didn’t deserve it, but we just have to accept it and move on,” said O’neill.
“We took the players out for dinner in Rotterdam on Friday night and that helped lift the mood. “Also, the real positive for me is that everyone wants to play. No one has come saying ‘can I sit this one out?’ That tells you everything in the group is positive.
“This is a great test because the Czech Republic are an excellent side and they had an excellent result against England on Friday.
“We have to move on and make sure we do well in this game and be ready for our remaining two qualifiers in November.”
O’neill, who plans to go with a strong line-up in Prague, was asked to reflect on Thursday’s painful 3-1 defeat to the Dutch.
Josh Magennis had headed the visitors into a shock lead only for a late flurry of goals to turn the Group C qualifier on its head.
Memphis Depay levelled in the 80th and Luuk de Jong made it 2-1 with a fortuitous goal in added time before Depay bagged his second of the night soon after.
A win in Rotterdam would have left Northern Ireland on the brink of qualification, while a draw would have teed up a winner take all date with the Dutch in Belfast on November 16.
“When you’re 10 minutes away from being a point away from qualification and take the game back to Belfast, it is very cruel,” said O’neill.
“It was also very fortunate for De Jong to get a second opportunity to put the ball in the net when he mishit the first opportunity.”
While it is now highly unlikely Northern Ireland will beat the Germans or Dutch to automatic qualification, a play-off berth is still in play.
Sixteen nations enter the play-offs in March – the draw is made next month – with four teams advancing to next summer’s finals.
“We have to start to think about that now because of the result in Rotterdam and at this moment in time it looks fairly positive for us” said O’neill.
“If we are not in a top two position (in qualifying) hopefully we get the opportunity to have the play-off.
“When you see the teams that have made it to the play-offs, we certainly deserve a place.”