Defeated, but NI are full of pride and joy
AUSTIN MacPhee is the only Scottish coach at the Euro Finals. The former St Mirren backroom staff member has been a vital part in Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland’s success in the past two years. This week, the highly-rated Scotsman reflects on last night’s defeat to Wales but the pride in the journey they’ve been on.
IT’S disappointing to be heading home from the Euros, but the positives we’ve had in the past two years far outweigh losing to Wales in the last-16 clash. There is a tremendous feeling of pride and rightly so.
It’s been an unbelievable experience being part of the backroom staff as we made it through the qualifiers with excellent results against the likes of Greece and Hungary to give the country its first major tournament in 30 years and their ever appearance in the European Championship Finals.
I have a huge debt of gratitude to Michael O’Neill for giving me this opportunity. I’ve only been in coaching for five years but working with him so closely has been an outstanding education. I head home to Fife this evening with a great belief of being able to operate at this level. It has whetted my appetite for more.
Of course, I’d prefer to be preparing analysis for a quarter-final clash against Hungary or Belgium and handing over a dossier to Michael but Wales now have that opportunity and I wish them the best of luck. However, I will focus on the happy memories, some I’m sure that’ll never be forgotten.
Even though I’m a proud Scot, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up when the Northern Ireland players and staff were cheered by around 20,000 at the Titanic quarter in Belfast as we prepared to set off a few weeks ago.
More than a few pundits expected us to be in France just to make up the numbers but we surprised a few by getting out of the group and into the last 16. It was great to see Aberdeen’s Niall McGinn scoring in our 2-0 win against Russia.
Then, to witness Michael McGovern (pictured) produce the best performance I’ve seen from a goalkeeper in an international tournament with his heroic display against Germany made it even sweeter. Rory McIlroy joined us in the dressing room in the Parc des Princes and that was another scene to cherish.
Seeing the reaction of the players when it was confirmed we had made the knockout stages was a joy.
They’re a great bunch, full of humility and a wonderful work ethic. I’ve got to know a few of them well and it was good to spend time in their company, listen to stories about family life, careers and what they plan to do when they hang up their boots.
They’re not without a sense of humour. Indeed, we played a few games of tennis and I was quickly nicknamed Bjorn Borg. That weighed heavily on my shoulders and I gave a very un-Borg like performance in a game of doubles when Paddy McNair and I lost 6-4 to goalie coach Maik Taylor and the chef.
I managed to redeem myself with a win in a singles match against our sports scientist, Sunderland’s Paul Walsh.
So, I only hope this is not my last major tournament. I’d love there to be more. I’ll now take a short break but it won’t be long before we are back together and the hard work begins all over again as we try to qualify for the 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia.