Dead loss for O’Neill

MICHAEL O’NEILL knows Northern Ireland face a massive task after being sentenced to a ‘Group of Death’.

They were put in Group C rather than Republic of Ireland because of complex draw rules and O’Neill’s men now face Holland and Germany with Estonia and Belarus also involved.

The Northern Ireland boss said: “It’s probably the most difficult group. There is an advantage to being a five-team group.

“Germany, again, and a rejuvenated Holland will be huge tests and we have to take maximum points off Belarus and Georgia.”