International friendly: Northern Ireland v Luxembourg (Windsor Park, 7.45pm)
IT’S almost exactly six years since Luxembourg inflicted probably the worst defeat of Michael O’Neill’s managerial career – but revenge is not on his mind. Germany is.
The home team selected tonight will arguably be weaker than the one which lost 3-2 in that qualifier for the 2014 World Cup.
What matters is getting Northern Ireland into good shape to face the Germans in Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier.
Injuries continue to afflict the hosts, with right-back Michael Smith and wide-man Jordan Jones the latest ruled out, joining Paul Smyth on the absent list, while Liam Boyce is unlikely to be risked due to a hamstring problem.
Those attacking losses have led to a call-up for Kyle Lafferty, along with Mark Sykes, but the most he can hope for is minutes off the bench.
Skipper Steven Davis and Jonny Evans both started against Luxembourg in 2013 but the former will definitely be rested, as may the latter, with his younger brother Corry taking the captain’s armband.
O’Neill might like to field two goalkeepers, not because Luxembourg are brilliant but in order to give game-time to players who have not been involved for their clubs so far this season. However, with a maximum of six substitutes allowed he has to be cautious about his in-game changes.
His defence has been settled recently but without Smith he will have to recall Conor McLaughlin at right back or use Stuart Dallas – at least the latter has played there for Leeds United recently.
“The back four is tricky,” acknowledged O’Neill. “We don’t have two left-backs or right-backs or like-for-like centre-backs but that’s what preparation is for.
“We can only do what we can do in the time-frame but I’m sure the players will benefit from what we’ve done.
“They will be tested. Luxembourg have a bit of pace up front, they’ve a bit of movement, the players inter-change a bit, but that’s good. We want our players tested so if the opportunity comes to play against Germany, they will be ready.”
Even though the next two opponents are very different sides, in very different matches, O’Neill will aim for some form of consistent approach, he said:
“We will play the same shape in both games. You’ve got to be fair to the players as well; you can’t just change everything like a back three, then a back four. Preparation has to be consistent so when they come in, it’s easy for them.
“When you have two competitive games the focus has to be on winning the first game. If we were playing Luxembourg in a competitive game I’d play my strongest team available but with it being a friendly you have to be more selective in your approach.”
The visitors, who are preparing to host Serbia in Group B, are no mugs, having taken four points off Lithuania and lost twice by one-goal margins to Ukraine.
The home support may expect a fifth consecutive win for the men in green, but O’Neill will be content with everyone emerging unscathed from tonight’s encounter.
"You want to win all the time because it’s natural, but it’s not so much about winning five games in a row.
“I don’t think the result will affect the momentum regardless of the Germany game if I’m honest but when you bring players into the team you want to try to be fair to them so they have the best chance possible.
“We’ve prepared this team, the same way we would if it were Germany. We’re a little bit challenged in terms of some of the players who are unavailable to us but we have prepared players in the same way in terms of analysis and training, everything has been focused on giving the players who will come into the team the best chance possible to do well”.
