HAPPY NOR SAD

O’neill’s men are glad to clinch play-off but Oslo result disappoints

A STRANGE mix of elation and frustration summed up the mood in the Northern Ireland camp as darkness fell on chilly Oslo.

next Satisfaction month’s at World securing Cup a place play-offin for Russia but a sense of frustration at suffering a 1-0 defeat to Norway at the Ullevaal Stadion.

It was a rare low point in a memorable Group C campaign – only pool winners Germany had defeated Michael O’neill’s men in the 10-game series prior to last night.

But it could prove costly with this month’s FIFA rankings – which will be published on October 16 – set to determine the top four seeds for the play-off draw in Zurich the following day.

Chris Brunt (inset), whose unfortunate second half own goal handed Norway victory, said: “To be beaten is disappointing, especially considering the campaign we’ve had.

“Maybe it says how far we’ve come as a squad that we are disappointed we’ve lost even though we made the play-offs.

“It’s frustrating but obviously we knew before the game that we had qualified for the play-offs so maybe that was going through our minds.”

While a 1-0 defeat in Oslo would have been enough to seal a play-off, Northern Ireland indeed knew they had sealed a shootout spot as one of the eight best runners-up prior to kick-off. Scotland’s 2-2 draw with Slovenia in Ljubljana in Group F in an earlier kick-off ensured O’neill and his players knew their fate 55 minutes before last night’s game.

Brunt said: “We knew just before the warm-up. Michael told us before going out that we were one of the eight teams in the play-offs.

“Personally, I don’t know whether it was a good or bad thing to know because there was no pressure on us to win the game.

“You also start thinking about players on yellow cards and making sure no one picks up any injuries.

“Maybe subconsciously you do think about it but we managed to get through the game without losing anybody and that was a bonus.”

On the prospect of securing a first World Cup for Northern Ireland since Mexico 1986, Brunt added: “It’s exciting to be two games away from the World Cup, although it’s important not to get carried away.

“We’ll have to wait for the draw now and you never know who we’re going to get. When the draw is made, I’m sure Michael and his backroom staff will leave no stone unturned in making sure we are fully prepared for the opposition.”

Brunt can count himself unlucky for Norway’s winner and he admitted: “It all happened so quickly. Mickey got a touch on it and I went with my right foot to try and clear it. I thought there was a player behind me.”