We need to more 'ugly' - O'Neill
By Alex Keery in FRANCE
Michael O’Neill is in positive mood as Northern Ireland prepare for the game of their lives later in Lyon.
Defeat to Poland in Nice in last weekend’s opener means they’ll need to take something from the match against Ukraine.
Speaking at the squad’s training base, O’Neill said the players know what they have to do now.
““It’s not as if we’ve been cut adrift,” he said
“What we didn’t do the other night was the ugly part of the game and that’s something we generally always do well.
“When I say ugly I mean in terms of the level of competitiveness.”
Earlier, Ukranian midfielder Rusian Rotan said that Northern Ireland would pose a physical threat typical of the British style.
But O’Neill said: “I don’t think Ukraine play a Spanish style football – we expect a tough game.”
O’Neill said his side are determined to extend their stay in France beyond the start of next week,
“When you come into the tournament there's an excitement building into the first game and having lost the first game, there's a natural fear of, 'When do you go home?'
“Other countries will feel the same and we have to make sure that's our motivating factor.
“`We actually love our base and want to stay there as long as possible! We must make sure tomorrow night that we play it like a cup final because we know the significance of three points.''
Ukraine will also be equipped with an all-or-nothing mentality having been defeated by the Germans in Lille.
Northern Ireland's players will wear black armbands for the fixture at the Stade de Lyon on Thursday night as a mark of respect to Darren Rodgers, the 24-year-old fan who died in Nice at the weekend having fallen from a seaside promenade barrier.
However, there will not be a minute's silence prior to kick-off, despite a request from the Irish Football Association to UEFA for that to be granted as well.
Pictured: Michael O'Neill faces the press in Lyon