Northern Ireland can build on positives to ensure brighter future: Paul Smyth
Paul Smyth while making a telling return to the international fold for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's Eoin Toal impressed against Slovenia
Northern Ireland's Brad Lyons made his international debut against Slovenia
Positive Paul Smyth insists that Northern Ireland can still show their quality in the remainder of what has been a very disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, while paying tribute to debutants Eoin Toal and Brad Lyons, who can help bolster a stronger future.
The team endured mixed fortunes across the recent international double-header of home ties, beating San Marino 3-0 — where Smyth scored a fine goal, with accompanying, trademark back flip celebration — while losing 1-0 against Slovenia.
Smyth’s performances of late have been one of the few positives manager Michael O’Neill can take from a Group H series which has yielded just six points from eight games. But the QPR winger feels Northern Ireland can still finish on a high with an away game in Finland before finally entertaining Denmark at Windsor Park next month.
“There were a lot of positives to take out of the recent games,” said Smyth.
“We have a lot of young players coming through and you can see the squad is transitioning into something new. We don’t have the squad now which qualified for the (2016) Euros — it’s a brand new squad, with only about three players who played in those Euros, so we are still showing what we can do and how we are developing as a team.
“It was tough against Slovenia, especially when we went down to 10 men, but we could have got an equaliser near the end and, overall, the boys can hold their heads up high. We can now go into next month with positive thoughts.
“It is fine margins when you play in these Euro
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