Northern Ireland v Bosnia

MANAGER’S VIEW

It doesn’t seem like five and a half months ago since I wrote my notes for the matchday programme for our friendly international against South Korea. A lot has certainly happened since.

We had two very worthwhile matches in Central America which enabled me to work with some of our younger players in a challenging and testing environment. We have also enjoyed an exciting, and in many ways surprising, World Cup. Who could have imagined that Germany and Argentina would have performed so poorly in Russia? However, the World Cup is now only a memory, another star on the badge of the French international team, so our attention needs to turn to the new UEFA Nations League competition and today’s opponents Bosnia and Herzegovina. While others can analyse in much more detail the various permutations and opportunities which this competition can provide, our constant focus and ambition must be to perform well in every competition. And if we can do that in this Nations League then it can even offer entry to the Euro 2020 finals (regardless of how we perform in the qualifying competition starting in Spring 2019) and better quality matches in its next appearance. I just can’t help it, I hate losing, so I can assure everyone that I will be doing everything I can to continue the team’s great home form at the National Football Stadium.

It’s not a bad track record that the only recent defeats have been against the then world champions (Germany), a World Cup 2018 finalist (Croatia) and Switzerland thanks to a dodgy penalty (least said about that the better). Maintaining the standards we have set for ourselves is key to this. If we play well then all things are possible. This does not mean, of course, that we will be taking our Nations League opponents lightly or that we have not adequately prepared (as they will no doubt not be complacent about us). Bosnia and Herzegovina are a formidable team with very capable players operating in strong European leagues, including the Premier League. We have never played them before at senior level so today we will be making history, and ours is a team of history makers! Today is the first step in the next journey towards the Euros. Everyone needs to be totally focused and committed. If we retain that commitment then, as we know, anything is possible. Enjoy the match and thanks for your continued support. Michael O’Neill Northern Ireland Manager

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