Northern Ireland vs Switzerland (21/03/2025)

It was great to finish 2024 by getting promoted to League B for the next edition of the UEFA Nations League.

We put in some really good team performances as we topped League C Group 3 and there were some excellent individual performances along the way, too. Now, however, it’s time to focus on what could potentially be another exciting year. A year ago we played Romania and Scotland in friendlies and I believe the results we achieved in those games kick-started a period of progress for what is still a very youthful squad. I am hoping tonight’s game against Switzerland in Belfast and Tuesday’s match away to Sweden in Stockholm will have a similar impact on performances and results going forward. Much has been made of some of the players who have been left out of the squad for these two international challenge matches. However, I prefer to focus on the players who are in my panel this time around. These games will provide several players, who are either uncapped or have very few caps under their belts, to make their mark as they get another taste of the international stage. Naturally, it is a blow to be without the likes of Conor Bradley, Daniel Ballard, Alistair McCann, Eoin Toal and Dion Charles, who are all injured, but I believe others in the squad have the capability to put in strong performances. The two friendlies this month, coupled with the two international challenge matches in June, will help us to prepare for the World Cup qualifying campaign in September. Our opponents in those qualifiers (either Italy or Germany, Slovakia and Luxembourg) will provide much stiffer tests than we encountered in League C of the Nations League.

And that’s why we must take on games like tonight’s friendly and the match in Stockholm. We need to give our players the opportunity to test themselves against strong opposition. Switzerland are a pot one team and playing against them will hopefully prepare us for either Italy or Germany. Sweden are a very strong pot two team with strikers in Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres that most countries in Europe would be keen to have. Slovakia don’t have as much firepower, however they are not too far below them in the rankings. Our squad has a lot of players who are with clubs in the Championship or League One so these upcoming games will enable them to test themselves against several players who play their football in the top leagues in Europe. The Swiss may be without the likes of Granit Xhaka and Manuel Akanji for this game but I am expecting them to field a strong team. Several Switzerland players operate in La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga, so our players know they will be in for a tough game. Having said that I believe they will relish the challenge, especially when playing in front of a packed stadium in Belfast. The atmosphere in the stadium during recent matches has been excellent and I am confident the players will rise to the occasion and deliver another positive performance against the Swiss.

Enjoy the game! MICHAEL O’NEILL NORTHERN IRELAND MANAGER

IRISHFA.COM

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