Northern Ireland v Netherlands

MANAGER’S VIEW

A lot has happened since Josh Magennis popped in that header in Rotterdam with 15 minutes to go…

Football can be a cruel game and there is little doubt that what occurred in additional time against the Dutch was not deserved. Our performance merited a better outcome but we have always said that the width of a post or the bounce of the ball can have a devastating effect on the outcome of a football match. I was hugely proud of the endeavour and application up to the point when fatigue set in. Good teams can hurt you in the latter stages of a match as we have discovered in this campaign against both the Germans and Dutch. That disappointment in Rotterdam was followed by perhaps the best 45 minutes of football we have played in my time as Northern Ireland manager as we destroyed the Czechs in Prague, with the goal machine that is Paddy McNair helping himself to two goals. I was very pleased with the team’s performance, not only in the first half when we played so well but also in the second half as we withheld Czech pressure to run out 3-2 winners. This performance certainly augurs well for the future. The next four days will, however, give us the opportunity to rectify the defeats to Germany and Netherlands and while we know we are up against it we are certainly not overawed. I am confident that once again we will give a good account of ourselves and the results will therefore be in the hands of fate. Of course since we last played my own circumstances have changed. I have been extremely proud and privileged both to play for and to manage my national team and no matter where I go, or no matter what I do, I will always have a

place in my heart for Northern Ireland and you, the fans, who have been so kind and supportive of me personally and professionally. To be able to give something back to the fans and the country in the form of Euro qualification in 2016 gave me immense pride and pleasure, just as repeating the feat for 2020 is my focus now. Sometimes opportunities come your way that cannot be ignored and the chance to go to a club of the standing of Stoke City could not be overlooked. However, as you know you have not seen the back of me yet and I am delighted that Stoke and the IFA have given me the opportunity to be able to fulfil these final two qualification games and any subsequent play-off matches. No doubt like you I have been trying to get to the bottom of the play-off maze and even with the use of slide rules and calculators I remain unsure of who we might end up playing or where. That will become clear over the next two matches. It has been more than 40 years since the Dutch have played in Belfast, and that was the wonderful ‘total football’ team of Cruyff, Neeskens etc. Today’s Netherlands team are just as formidable and, as we all know, we will need to be on top form for the whole game to get a result. I know we have unfinished business and that the boys are fully focused on achieving this. And with your support I am convinced we can do this. Thank you again for all your support. Michael O’Neill Northern Ireland Manager

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