Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland Nations League promotion would be ‘huge achievement’
Michael O’Neill knows a “massive carrot” is hanging in front of his Northern Ireland players as they look to seal promotion to the top level of the Nations League.
After an outstanding run of results in the last international window, Northern Ireland go into their final two Group B2 fixtures top of the table, with a potential group decider away to Hungary next week.
When O’Neill’s side opened their quadruple header in late September with a 1-0 win away to Georgia – sealed with Shea Charles’ stoppage-time goal – it was their first ever win in League B of this competition.
But now they go into Saturday’s home match against Ukraine as the only nation left in the competition yet to concede a goal after four matches, one point clear of Hungary and four above Ukraine.
Top spot would bring automatic promotion to League A, while second place earns a play-off against one of the lowest-ranked sides from the top level.
“The players have a massive carrot,” O’Neill told the Press Association. “It’s easy, I don’t think I’m going to have to motivate this group too much.
“They have the opportunity to finish top of the group, the opportunity to go to Nations League A, the highest level of international football we can play at.
“There’s a massive carrot for them and it would be a huge achievement if they could achieve that.”
However, O’Neill is wary of putting too much pressure on his side to secure top spot.
When they met Ukraine in October in Slovakia, which finished in a 3-0 Northern Ireland win, the average age of the starting eleven was just 22.
The squad has become even more youthful since, with Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee, 23, and Eoin Kenny, 20, replacing the 30-year-old Bailey Peacock-Farrell and 31-year-old Dion Charles in O’Neill’s latest selection.
Unless Northern Ireland beat Ukraine and Hungary lose away to Georgia this weekend, the fight for top spot will come down to next Tuesday’s trip to the 67,000 capacity Puskas Arena in Budapest – an intimidating arena for any visiting team.
“We’re in with a chance of winning now. Of course we want to try and win the group and get to the next level,” O’Neill added.
“But we’re a young team, and we’re a young squad. We won’t put that too much of a burden on this group of players. They’ve given themselves a great opportunity and we’ll make sure we do everything possible. Both of these will be tough games.
“Ukraine are a good side, Hungary are a good side, and were in League A in the previous Nations League.
“Ukraine have a lot of good players, an extremely proud nation, and you see that when they come out and play international football.
“We know the opportunity we have, but we also know the challenge is huge as well.”