O’Neill: I Pan help Gareth plan ahead

MICHAEL O’NEILL says he will happily provide Gareth Southgate with any useful information about England’s World Cup opponents Panama after Northern Ireland play them this week.

Panama are using the friendly against O’Neill’s side – on Tuesday night, Central American time – as preparation for the Group

G game with England.

And O’Neill

(right) said: “I know Gareth and I’m sure England will have watched Panama inside and out and they will have someone there when we play them in Panama City.

“But of course, if Gareth wanted to call me I would speak to him and give him any information that may be useful ahead of England’s

World Cup match with Panama.

“We’ll be looking for a win against them and to really test them.”

O’Neill would love to be taking his team to the finals in Russia but a controversial play-off defeat to Switzerland ended their World Cup dream. Current holders Germany topped Northern Ireland’s qualifying group and O’Neill sees them as favourites to retain the trophy this time around in Russia. “Germany are the team to beat,” he added. “They have quality all over the pitch and have the winning experience of last time. “For Argentina, the World Cup will depend on how Lionel Messi performs, while Brazil have a squad with real potential and I think Spain are an emerging side again.

“You always get excited about the World Cup and this one is no different. “Obviously we would prefer to be playing in it but I’ll still watch with interest.” And if he can help Three Lions boss Southgate (above) along the way, then at least O’Neill and Co will have had an impact on the finals in some way at least, even if it is not in the fashion the Northern Ireland chief would have wanted.

STEVEN BEACOM