World Cup 2018 Qualifying Group C: Northern Ireland v San Marino (tonight, Windsor Park, 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports 5)
IF things pan out as expected, tonight should be the calm before next week’s storm for Northern Ireland.
A first home game at the new and improved Windsor Park against genuine international minnows San Marino should provide the North’s first win of the campaign. Then, with three points in the bank, they can tighten their belts for the contrasting trip to Hannover where they face World Cup holders Germany on Tuesday.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino, Dutch master Marco van Basten, Carl Frampton, Dennis Taylor and Pat Jennings will be part of the pre-game celebrations tonight. Rumour has it that Jimmy Nesbitt and Charlie Lawson (AKA Coronation Street’s Jim McDonald) will be there too – so all Northern Ireland have to do is win 6-0 and everyone can go home happy.
Of course things don’t always go to plan at Windsor Park. Northern Ireland have ripped up scripts regularly over the years. Remember the 1-1 draws at home against Luxembourg and Azerbijan in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign?
But that was then and this is now and with the confidence of qualifying for the last 16 at last summer’s European Championships still fresh in the memory, manager Michael O’Neill is confident there’ll be no slip-ups tonight.
“It’s just another game in terms of qualification,” he asked when it was put to him that stage fright might be a factor.
“We have to approach the game very positively, the players have worked hard all week on the type of game it will be.
“The stadium is complete, we’re hoping it is a full house, a great atmosphere, the pitch is excellent. We’ll do everything possible to win the game.”
O’Neill enjoys the weight of expectation. After all, if the fans travel to Windsor Park expecting to see their team win he must be doing something right.
“The worst thing you could have is no expectation,” he said.
“Expectation is a positive thing for us and the players will embrace that. I don’t think you’ll see any fear in terms of how they play.
“They went through difficult games in the qualification for France, they went through difficult games in the qualification for the 2014 World Cup and they’re a lot more experienced now.
“A lot of those players have had those campaigns under their belt and the players at the latter stages of their career want to savour every moment in a green shirt and the players that are coming through are all trying to establish themselves.”
While the North were grinding out a 0-0 in their group opener against the Czech Republic, San Marino lost at home to Azerbijan – but only 1-0.
O’Neill will set his team up to attack tonight and take the game to Pierangelo Manzaroli’s side. His biggest headache will be whether to persist with the misfiring Kyle Lafferty or start with Josh Magennis, who added energy and focus to the North’s attack against the Czech’s, and Conor Washington – who scored for QPR last Saturday.
“We need them fit, on form,” said O’Neill yesterday.
“It’s encouraging going into this game that out of the 20 outfield players 17 started for their club at the weekend which is higher than we have seen in previous times.
“Bit by bit there will be small changes to the squad and team but it’ll never be wholesale because of the resources available to us. When they’ve had long international careers – Steven (Davis), Gareth (McAuley), Jonny (Evans), Aaron (Hughes) – they’ve had to wait a long time for success so they want it to last longer than one tournament so want to do our best to go to the next one.”
To have any chance of reaching the finals tournament in Russia, Northern Ireland obviously have to win tonight. The countries have met twice, in the qualifiers for Euro 2012 when San Marino were thumped 4-0 in Belfast and 3-0 at home.
“Our focus is win the first game,” said O’Neill.
“The most important part of any game, more than being tactically ready, is being mentally right and if you win the first game you’ll be mentally right for the second one.”
Expect Northern Ireland to win, and win well tonight. Another 4-0 victory is on the cards and then they can turn their attention to Tuesday and the Germans.
Northern Ireland (possible): McGovern, McLaughlin, McAuley, J Evans, McGivern, McNair, Davis, Norwood, Dallas, McGinn, Magennis
