WINDSOR CASTLE

O’Neill hoping Belfast fortress will ensure Northern Ireland don’t return to the bad old days of being also-rans

Northern Ireland v Switzerland Kick-off 7.45pm MICHAEL O’NEILL says Northern Ireland are determined to reach the World Cup because they do not want to return to the bad old days.

O’Neill and his band of brothers face Switzerland in their play-off first leg in front of a rocking Windsor Park tonight and are desperate to maintain their remarkable glory story.

Stalwarts Steven Davis and Jonny Evans remember when they were habitual also-rans and O’Neill says they do not want to slip back there.

“You can get into a habit of things being poor, losing games and that mindset,” said the Northern Irish boss. “It takes guts to change it and the players did that. That’s something we hang on to. “The good thing we have now is that when you’ve been through the experiences Jonny and Davo have been through, you don’t want to go back. “That’s the only motivation you

need to maintain the level we’re at. The players don’t want to let it go. Jonny has played a lot of international football and will play a lot more.

“I’m sure he wants to play it at this level and that’s the motivation the players have.”

The stakes are huge for Northern Ireland and victory would see them make history by becoming the first side from the province of 1.7million people to qualify for back-to-back major tournaments.

Lose and it will signal the end of Davis, Aaron Hughes, Chris Brunt, Michael McGovern and Gareth McAuley’s dreams of playing in a World Cup, while O’Neill (right) could be lured away.

O’Neill joked everyone was relaxed apart from him and says his players can draw on their experience of winning defining games against Greece and Ukraine.

“Other than myself, they’re fine!” he smiled. “These players have experienced a lot. We all know the prize is massive and what it means to everyone in Northern Ireland.”

Evans, one of just four Premier League players in the squad, feels reaching Russia would top qualifying for Euro 2016.

“To achieve something second time around always feels better so I’m sure we’d look on it as a better achievement,” said the West Brom skipper.

“To reproduce that hunger to go through all that again would be amazing and would eclipse the European Championships.” Evans, 29, will no doubt shed a tear, just like he does when he watches O’Neill’s motivational videos, if they do qualify to prompt more mickeytaking from his brother, the Blackburn midfielder Corry.

“I still get emotional. I think playing for your country does that to you and we’ve been through a lot together,” he added.

It will also be an emotional night for Davis as the Irish captain wins his 100th cap.

O’Neill said: “I feel privileged as a manager to be able to give him that 100th cap because he’s been fantastic for me.”