Here are a bunch of lads who’ve taken the hits, learned the lessons, and now stand on the cusp of something real
There’s something happening with Northern Ireland. You can feel it in the way the players talk; see it in the way they have played.
So far in this World Cup campaign, Slovakia have been slayed; Germany rattled; Luxembourg beaten.
Outsiders will say Northern Ireland are punching above their weight; those within the camp will interpret that as a back-handed compliment.
But it’s true. Here are a bunch of lads who’ve taken the hits, learned the lessons, and now stand on the cusp of something real.
They’ve been the nearly men for too long — writing enough hard-luck stories to fill a book never mind a chapter. But this time? This time, you sense the story’s ready to change.
Slovakia on Friday. A nation watching. And maybe, just maybe, a team about to come of age.
There’s a buzz around the camp. Not bluster. Not bravado. Just belief. Real belief that this team might finally be ready to take the next step.
For Bailey Peacock-Farrell, it’s personal.
He’s got more than 50 caps to his name but missed out on Euro 2016 — that golden summer when Northern Ireland lit up France.
Now, at 29, the Birmingham City keeper on loan at Blackpool knows this could be his moment. His chance to lead a new generation to the biggest stage of all.
“Potentially I’ll be busier,” he says. “They’ll have some key players back and we’re missing a few. But they’ll be wary too — we gave them a proper jolt after they had that high of beating Germany.
“We were incredible against them. Then we felt hard done by against Germany,” he adds. “We’re actually in pretty good form. We’re playing really well and while away games are always tough, we’re not worried.
“We’re aware of their qualities — we always are — but our team is really promising. It’s exciting. There’s belief, enthusiasm and genuine ability. It’s great to be part of.”
He pauses, then adds: “I feel like we’re right on the edge of something. It’s there for us — that chance to take the next step. I genuinely believe it.”
That belief isn’t blind optimism. It’s grounded in experience.
Peacock-Farrell states: “A lot of the lads are settled now.
“They’re playing at good levels, playing regularly, and most have 15 or 20 caps. You can call that experience. Add the youth, the enthusiasm, the fearlessness — it’s a great mix.”
He nods when Germany are mentioned. “We weren’t scared of them. We believed. Every player did. The manager believes in us too. Sometimes you just need one of those games to prove it to yourself — to show you are good enough.
“If you can play well against Germany, you can play well against anyone.”
It’s the kind of quiet assurance that used to define Michael O’Neill’s first great side, the one that made it to France and Euro 2016. Those qualities are starting to reappear in this one.
Not that Peacock-Farrell’s own season has been all smooth sailing. He faced criticism early on at Blackpool. But he never lost faith.
“I genuinely thought it was harsh,” he says. “I knew I was doing the right things. It was just a bit of bad luck and no rhythm. I’d had no pre-season — just two weeks of training and then straight into games.
“I was undercooked, that’s all. I knew it would turn. I know I’m a good player. Sometimes you’ve just got to ride the storm. It got blown up a bit because of the situation at the club.”
If that was a wobble, he’s long since steadied.
“It’s super exciting,” he says of the pathway ahead for Northern Ireland. “The opportunity we have now is immense. I really believe this is the strongest we’ve been.”
He remembers the heartbreak after Euro 2016 — and the years of rebuilding that followed.
“Back then, we were hard done by in the play-offs,” he says. “Now, it’s different. There’s so much energy, enthusiasm and fearlessness.
“The levels lads are playing at are high. And there’s still room to grow — I’ve got more to give, we all do. These next games — and hopefully a tournament — can only take us higher.”
This, he says, hasn’t just happened overnight.
“We’ve been working hard for two years,” he insists. “The young lads have come in and are 10, 15, 20 caps in now. The performances have been top. But we haven’t earned anything yet. We’ve got to finish the job.”
It’s that pragmatism which marks him out as a proper international keeper. One who knows that talent is nothing without temperament.
“It’s a mental game,” he says. “Probably more than any other position on the pitch. Everyone can catch a ball, kick a ball. What separates the best is how they deal with what’s in their head.”
He knows all about that side of things. “When you’ve had a dip, and you come through it, it’s a brilliant feeling.
Goalkeeping’s all about rhythm. Flow. If you start thinking too much, it’s gone. You’ve got to trust your instincts.”
His instinct around this team is bright.
Okay, Northern Ireland haven’t reached a World Cup since Mexico ’86. But this feels different. There’s something stirring again.
And as the squad head east to Slovakia, there’s a sense that maybe — just maybe — this could be the start of something special.
“Yeah,” he says. “It’s there for us. We just have to take it.”
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