NI boss Michael O’Neill wants to avoid pointless end to Euro campaign
Group H
Dale Taylor gives chase to Ross McCausland at Northern Ireland training in Helsinki
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill oversees Thursday night's training session in a freezing Helsinki
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has admitted he will take a serious look at himself if the team finish the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign having only gained points against San Marino — and he would expect his players to do the same.
From eight games in Group H, O’Neill’s side have lost six of them to Slovenia, Denmark, Kazakhstan and Finland with the only victories coming against the nation ranked the worst in FIFA’s rankings.
The upcoming double header here in freezing Helsinki versus Finland on Friday and Denmark on Monday in Belfast offers a final opportunity to change that record even if it won’t alter a thing in relation to the country’s failed qualification bid.
O’Neill takes great pride in his work and despite having an injury ravaged squad all year with the current one the most depleted, he is determined to avoid just having six points on the board thanks to home and away triumphs over San Marino.
“I think we would certainly be disappointed if that was the outcome,” he said the night before Northern Ireland play in Helsinki’s Olympic stadium.
“We would have to seriously look at ourselves, myself as a coach and the players as a group.
“There is a pride in playing for your national team regardless of what is at stake and that is something we have to protect as well.
“The most important thing is the level of performance is there and that we can put points on the board.
“There have been certain games in this campaign where I think we have been a little bit unlucky not to take points but we haven’t taken them and
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