NORTHERN Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has wished the Republic of Ireland “all the best” in their quest to also qualify for Euro 2016.
The north boss praised the achievement of counterpart Martin O’Neill in keeping alive the hope of automatic qualification from Group D, which would be achieved with a win in Poland tomorrow night.
“The Republic of Ireland, I have say that Martin has done unbelievably well to win the last three games,” said Michael.
“I think that everyone just took it as given that the Republic would lose the last two games [against Germany and Poland] and that’s not been the case.”
Indeed, the Republic shocked the world of football by defeating the World Cup-holders 1-0 in Dublin on Thursday night, the same evening that the north ensured qualification by beating Greece 3-1.
That win over Germany was in keeping with the former Leicester City and Celtic boss’s managerial career, though, suggested Michael O’Neill, who believes that an away victory is eminently achievable in Warsaw tomorrow:
“Throughout his career Martin has got results when the odds have been against him. They’ve put themselves in a great position and there’s nothing to say they can’t go and get what they need in Poland either. I wish them all the best.
The NI boss admitted he was disappointed that Scotland had been squeezed out, their hopes ended by Poland’s lucky last-gasp equaliser at Hampden Park on Thursday night:
“Yeah, I think it’s good for all of the home countries to qualify. Obviously I’m disappointed for Gordon [Strachan] and Scotland. There was always probably going to be a casualty between Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
“Living in Scotland and having played under Gordon as well [at Coventry City], I’m very close to that, I do feel for him.
“I felt that Scotland were in a really strong position after the game in June [when they drew 1-1 in Dublin] but unfortunately the results haven’t gone their way. They’ve made a lot of progress under Gordon and there’s still a lot of positivity around the national team there”.
