George Saville: Northern Ireland will take criticism on the chin and be ready for Denmark
George Saville leads the Northern Ireland team out against Finland
George Saville says Northern Ireland players have to accept the criticism that comes their way for this campaign as a whole and the crushing 4-0 defeat to Finland in Helsinki on a humiliating evening for the country.
The loss in Helsinki was the seventh from nine games in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign leaving Michael O’Neill’s side in fifth place in Group H with only San Marino below them.
Northern Ireland’s record of just three wins in their last 16 outings is also alarming, especially given two of those victories came against San Marino who are rated the worst team in Fifa’s rankings.
With figures like that and the heavy beating in Helsinki, Saville was open about the flak that will be flying in the team’s direction ahead of Monday’s final qualifier against Denmark and how the squad must stand up and be counted for that game at Windsor Park.
“It is a quick turnaround and we have to go again for Denmark. We have to front it and the criticism coming our way,” stated the Millwall midfielder, who was captain against the Finns as he made his 50th international appearance.
“Obviously results haven’t been good so that’s expected. We have to turn up for the Denmark match at Windsor. It’s as simple as that.”
Northern Ireland made an encouraging start in the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki but Saville felt once the opening goal was conceded to a penalty in the latter stages of the first-half the side struggled and when Teemu Pukki came on after the break to score and create goals number three and four the game was up.
“I thought we did well for most of the first-half, played some nice football and it was very even and then there was a lack of concentration and
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