Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill dismisses dead rubber talk as he prepares to face Germany
Despite the convoluted nature of the play-off draw, which could pitch Northern Ireland against any number of sides depending on how the qualification stage concludes, Michael O’Neill insisted his concentration will be solely on the action in Frankfurt where his side play a dead rubber game against already qualified Germany. He will not have half an eye on the action in Cardiff, where Wales play Hungary, or anywhere else.
“We’ll be too busy with what’s happening on pitch,” he said, ahead of training at the stadium. “We have played home to Holland then away to Germany this international break. Is there a more difficult double header? We’ll be ready for whatever comes our way.”
In order to prepare for the play-offs, he added, there would be no easing off. The game might be a dead rubber – with Germany qualified and Northern Ireland already in the play-off – but he has a considerable record to protect. Under his management Northern Ireland have played 27 group-stage qualifiers, of which they have won 16 drawn 5 and lost 6 dating back to start of the Euro 2016 campaign.
“It is very important to finish on a high note, but this is as difficult a place to come to achieve that high note,” he said. Though, while his German counterpart Joachim Loew had revealed that he will be bringing in some fringe players (including the Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen), O’Neill did not believe that would make his players task any easier.
“Hopefully Tony Kruis gets a rest, Serge Gnabry as well,” he said. “But we’ll face a very strong team. The players coming in have a massive incentive. This will be the first game for those given the opportunity to say they deserve to be part of squad for the finals. We will face highly motivated players.”
And, when asked if his new role at Stoke City had made him more understanding of any club manager who might ask him to ease off in the game, O’Neill insisted he had not changed his approach.
“I’ve switched my phone off, so I’ve no sympathy whatsoever,” he said. “It means I’ve not been in a position to phone [Republic of Ireland manager] Mick McCarthy and say don’t play [Stoke’s] James McClean. I believe a player who has positive international experience is a better player for you in the long run for the club. It helps them at club level. Players from Northern Ireland are underrated. It’s a positive. But it’s probably a question that I’ll be able to answer honestly in a few more months.”
