Michael O'Neill challenges Northern Ireland to take 'big step up' in World Cup mission
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill admits facing former World Cup champions Italy in this month’s play-off semi-final represents “a big step up for us” – but believes his squad can rise to the occasion.
O’Neill was in Belfast on Monday morning to announce his 28-player panel ahead of a trip to Bergamo on March 26 where Northern Ireland will be looking to take a giant stride towards sealing World Cup qualification.
They’ve been handed the toughest test possible with the Italians sitting 56 places higher in FIFA’s world rankings while Gennaro Gattuso has an embarrassment of riches to choose from – including the likes of Premier League stars Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali.
O’Neill’s men finished third in a qualifying group which was topped by Germany, who escaped Windsor Park with a narrow 1-0 victory following an impressive Northern Ireland performance.
Having shown they can mix it with some of the best in world football, O’Neill has called on his players to raise their levels once again.
"Italy have got a bunch of players who play in Serie A, play for Inter Milan, Lazio, Roma, Napoli,” he said. “They also have players who play in the Premier League at top clubs as well.
"We see Tonali, arguably as good as any midfield player in the Premier League, (Riccardo) Calafiori at Arsenal as well.
"It's going to be a very, very tough game, there's no doubt about that.
"We're going to have to step up. If you look at our squad, there's 13 players in the Championship, there's four Premier League clubs and the rest are League One or playing their football elsewhere, so it is a big step up for us.
"But it's a step up we've made in the past, I think we made it in the Germany game, albeit we didn't get the result that we felt we maybe could have done...we have to try and make that step up again.”
O’Neill is currently balancing his international commitments alongside club duties having taken over as Blackburn Rovers manager until the end of this season.
When asked about his future, O’Neill said: "I'm not looking beyond (the World Cup play-offs).
"I have a two-year contract (with the Irish FA).
“For me not to be Northern Ireland manager, there would have to be an agreement between Blackburn and the IFA, I would have to want to do that, and at this minute in time, my focus is on the World Cup play-off and the remaining games for Blackburn Rovers.
"It's the same answer I gave you back four weeks ago...that's the situation and it hasn't changed since then.
"I understand it being asked once – I don't know why it has to be asked repeatedly.
"When I went in, my job was to go in as interim manager of Blackburn, that's what I've done. My job was to continue to manage Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off, that's what I'll do.”