Northern Ireland have the chance to finish second in Group A of European qualifying
Michael O’Neill has insisted that the prospect of Northern Ireland securing a World Cup play-off spot through the Nations League hasn’t lessened their ambition to finish in the top two of Group A.
Northern Ireland head into their final two group qualifiers this week sitting third, three points adrift of both Germany and Slovakia. Victory over Slovakia in Kosice on Friday, followed by a win against Luxembourg at Windsor Park on Monday, could see them claim a top-two berth.
If they miss out, O’Neill’s side are still highly likely to reach the play-offs anyway, having topped their Nations League group last year. However, whilst that provides a safety net, it isn’t where the manager’s focus lies.
“I think a safety net is the best way to describe it,” O’Neill told the PA news agency. “But make no mistake about it – we want to finish in the top two positions of the group. That was our ambition at the start.
“We talked about that with the players – how we would do that, what we felt we would need to do that. And we have the opportunity to do that.”
When the qualifying draw was initially made, the expectation was that Germany would cruise through as group winners, with Northern Ireland and Slovakia battling it out for the runners-up spot.
However, Slovakia’s stunning 2-0 victory over Germany in their opening fixture changed everything. Whilst it blew the group wide open, it left Northern Ireland playing catch-up from the outset.
“It was a brilliant result for Slovakia and it’s probably given them an edge over us,” O’Neill added. “But we have to take that back. Having beaten them at home (2-0 last month), now we have to take it off them when we go to Kosice..
“It will be a massive game for Slovakia as well because they will believe if they can beat us, they’ll go to Germany with the opportunity to top the group. That’s a massive incentive for them so we have to be able to deal with that.”
Northern Ireland will be without several key players for these final two fixtures, with injuries ruling out crucial midfielders Shea Charles and Ali McCann, alongside defender Brodie Spencer, whilst Ethan Galbraith faces suspension for the Slovakia encounter. All four featured in last month’s 1-0 defeat to Germany.
Before the recent Germany fixtures, there was considerable discussion about Northern Ireland needing to focus on their performance rather than the magnitude of facing the four-time world champions.
The journey to Kosice might lack the same prestige, but as the decisive fixture in the group, it demands equal concentration.
“I think the players know what is at stake in this game and they’ll be ready and they’ll give everything they can to make sure we get the results that we need,” O’Neill added.
“The key for this group is not to look back and have massive regrets that we could have done this or we could have done that. They’ve given everything in the four games to date and we’ve just got to replicate that.”
O’Neill has bolstered his squad with the addition of Jamal Lewis, who is set to make his first appearance in over a year after signing a short-term contract with Preston at the end of October.
Lewis, who last represented his country against Bulgaria in October 2024 earning his 39th cap, could potentially fill the left-wing back position in the absence of Spencer.
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