Special message to NI players as they prepare to take on the Swiss
'we must not let this opportunity slip past': O'Neill
Michael O’Neill has delivered a rallying cry to his Northern Ireland players ahead of their World Cup play-off against Switzerland.
“They are going to get fantastic backing here – there is going to be a fantastic atmosphere,” he said
“We just have to make sure we do everything to not let this opportunity slip past.”
O’Neill branded the two-legged clash “huge” and urged his side to seize the moment because it might not happen again.
“How many times do you get the opportunity to be 180 minutes away from going to the World Cup,” he added.
“And the work you have to do not just in the qualification but there are four years of work to get to that point and I think this is a huge game.”
Northern Ireland take on the Swiss at the National Stadium at Windsor Park on Thursday with the second leg to follow on Sunday.
The Republic, meanwhile, are away to Denmark in their first of their two-legged play-off on Saturday.
Martin O’Neill’s men are then at home for the second leg next Tuesday