Ten-man Northern Ireland can’t double up as early free-kick earns Slovenia victory at Windsor Park
Northern Ireland 0 Slovenia 1
George Saville's during Northern Ireland's defeat to Slovenia
Shea Charles is given a red card
Eoin Toal, left, came in for the hosts (Liam McBurney/PA)
Northern Ireland team line-up before Tuesday’s UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier against Slovenia at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Belfast. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye
Another defeat for Northern Ireland in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. That’s six in eight games now in what has been a thoroughly miserable campaign.
Remember the excitement when the draw was made last year and Northern Ireland were matched with Slovenia, Denmark, Finland and Kazakhstan and then the messiah Michael O’Neill returned as manager?
Group H stood for Hope. Instead it’s been a Horror show, with O’Neill’s side losing every time they have played one of the above.
The latest setback came on Tuesday night against table topping Slovenia at Windsor Park, where Panathinaikos midfielder Adam Cerin scored a stunning free-kick early on in his side’s 1-0 victory and Shea Charles was sent off in the second half on a night when Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs received more negativity from the 16,332 strong home crowd than Casement Park.
For sure, all the injuries to influential players this year have been a massive blow to the boss and his team but even allowing for the experienced absentees and numerous youngsters having to be blooded picking up just six points out of 24 at this stage, courtesy of home and away wins over San Marino, is a dismal return.
It’s not France, Spain, England and Portugal that Northern Ireland have been up against.
The Danes may be 18th in FIFA’s rankings, but Finland are 54th, Slovenia 59th and Kazakhstan 100th. These nations aren’t world
Read on belfasttelegraph.co.uk
