Take 6 points from the next 2 games and we’ll sit very pretty

GILLESPIE EXCITED AS GROUP COMES TO BOIL

FORMER winger Keith Gillespie believes the next two rounds of fixtures in Group C could prove decisive in Northern Ireland’s quest to reach the World Cup. While Michael O’neill’s men face Azerbaijan and San Marino in their next two qualifiers, nearest rivals Czech Republic face off against Norway and runaway leaders Germany. A two-point lead over the Czechs at the midway point of the campaign could be enhanced if wins are secured this evening and in Serravalle on September 1. Ahead of tonight’s showdown with the Azeri in Baku, Gillespie said: “Our next two games against Azerbaijan and San Marino could prove crucial. “Take six points from those two fixtures and it would give us a great chance to open up a bigger gap on the Czech Republic. “Beat Azerbaijan and San Marino and you’d be sitting on 16 points with three qualifiers to play. You’d be in a very strong position heading into the final strait.” Gillespie (above) believes the fixture schedule looks very favourable now for Northern Ireland who conclude their campaign with two double-headers at the start of next season. O’neill and his players travel to basement battlers San Marino on September 1 before hosting the Czechs in a high stakes shootout at Windsor Park three years later. They then welcome Germany – who are nailed on favourites to secure top spot – to Belfast on October 5 and finish their campaign with a trip to Norway three days later. Gillespie said: “The Czech Republic’s next two games are against Norway and then Germany. Norway aren’t the side they once were but that’s not an easy game. “A win for Norway would be perfect for Michael and it would put a lot of pressure on the Czechs heading into their next game at home to the Germans. “Our next two games give us a great chance to open up a gap on the Czechs. The gap is two points at the moment but the chance is there to increase it. “The home game against the Czechs could then prove pivotal to our hopes. Don’t lose to the Czechs in Belfast and you’d be very close to securing the runners-up spot. “You’d then have a ‘free one’ against the Germans at Windsor – anything from that game would be a bonus.” Gillespie, now a football agent with local agency Onetwo, believes that O’neill will have his players “fully prepared” for the warm climate in Baku. A training camp in Manchester preceded last week’s 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand, while the travelling party spent five days in nearby Turkey before travelling to Azerbaijan. Tonight’s game has a local 8pm kick-off but temperatures are still expected to hit 25C at the 30,000 capacity Tofiq Bahramov Stadium. Gillespie said: “Michael is meticulous in terms of his planning and I’ve no doubt he will have the players acclimatised and well prepared for the demanding conditions. “Nobody likes playing at this time of year because it’s a long season for players and a month or more has passed since the end of the club seasons. “It’s difficult and I’d rather a game of this importance wasn’t played in June but it’s here now and I’m confident Michael will have the players fully prepared.”