QUALIFYING for the 2026 World Cup will require a major step up for Northern Ireland – achieving at least one away win against a top team.
Michael O’Neill has only recorded competitive wins on the road against San Marino and Luxembourg during his second spell in charge.
NI’s third place finish in Group A, combined with their lowly Fifa ranking (currently 69th) means that their Nations League promotion from League C still only earns them a Pot 4 slot for next Thursday’s draw.
As well as facing a leading side, that results in an away game – and possibly another even if they win through that play-off semi-final.
On the face of it, that’s a daunting prospect, but experienced midfielder George Saville believes that breakthrough can be made:
“As I’ve said before, this group’s progressed massively in the last 12 to 18 months, obviously going back to the Nations League campaign and up until now.
“We had a couple of lads missing as well, so if we can get a fully fit squad in March, we can go and attack it.”
Slovakia’s Adam Obert (left) and Northern Ireland’s Brad Lyons battle for the ball in Kosice on Friday night.
Pic: Ben Whitley/PA Wire. (Ben Whitley/Ben Whitley/PA Wire)
Without the injured duo of Shea Charles and Ali McCann and the suspended Ethan Galbraith, 32-year-old Saville came into the midfield, along with captain Conor Bradley and Brad Lyons.
“I think Brad performed really well, I think he should be really proud of himself. He’s been in the camp, he’s been with the squad a long time and he’s waited for a chance and I think he’s taken that opportunity well, he stepped up.”
Slovakia’s Tomas Bobcek (second right) scores their late winner against Northern Ireland in Kosice.
Pic: Ben Whitley/PA Wire. (Ben Whitley/Ben Whitley/PA Wire)
The Luton Town man was pleased with his own gritty performance, but the defeat overshadowed those personal considerations:
“Obviously individually performed well, so I’m happy with that, but ultimately just gutted that we’ve lost – but positive as we have a play-off in March, so we just have to look forward to that really.
“[Defeat] is always tough to take, especially last minute, a bit of a sucker punch, kind of felt comfortable all night really as well. A tough game obviously away, and a bit scrappy, but obviously ultimately a bit gutted.”
Unfortunately a booking, his second of this group, rules him out of Monday night’s home match against Luxembourg:
“Gutted, obviously – you forget and it’s just heat of moment and you’re just trying to do what you can on the pitch…
“Conceding and the booking, it’s just a sucker punch, a double blow really. Gutted not to be involved Monday, but obviously hopefully we can look forward to March.
“Mine’s a foul, but it’s just a foul in my opinion, it’s just a foul. You can’t do anything these days on the football pitch – it’s just the way football’s gone, it’s just the way it is.”
Although he won’t be involved and the match is a ‘dead rubber’, Saville still wants NI to put in a good performance against Luxembourg:
“It’s important to play well at home for the fans and get a good feeling.
“We’ve had a great feeling around Windsor Park recently, we’ve picked up good results, I think we’ve lost one in nine maybe, so hopefully the lads can play well, get a good performance, get a good feeling and pick some momentum up for March.”
