Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
O’Neill to take time on future
MICHAEL O’Neill will take time to ponder his future after seeing Northern Ireland miss out on their first World Cup since 1986 in heartbreaking fashion.
The curtain may have come down on one of the most successful eras in the country’s history following yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Switzerland, which was enough for the Swiss to win the play-off by virtue of the 1-0 first-leg victor y at Windsor Park.
Aaron Hughes, Gareth McAuley, Chris Brunt and Jamie Ward, all starters in Basel, could now contemplate international retirement, particularly if O’Neill is lured away by either Scotland or a club side.
“No, I haven’t even considered that,” O’Neill said, when quizzed over his future.
“It’s about being with my players, spending time with them and making sure they are OK.
“As I said to the players themselves, there i s no need to make any rash decisions on anything they want to do.They have given everything.”
His Northern Ireland side went down fighting at St Jakob-Park with energy, commitment and heart — all characteristics of O’Neill’s near six-year tenure.
Ricardo Rodriguez who converted the controversial spot-kick at Windsor Park, and he was the man of the moment again three days on when he cleared Jonny Evans’ stoppage-time header off the line.
Straight-talking midfielder Oliver Norwood summed up the mood.
“Shafted is the only word to put it,” he said.
“I will think about the penalty decision for years to come as it’s the only goal between the two sides and it’s knocked us out. It’s disappointing that these decisions cost us a place in the World Cup.”