O'Neill positive about Swiss draw
Northern Ireland avoid Italy in World Cup play-offs
Michael O’Neill has said that Northern Ireland can take heart from what has already been achieved in World Cup qualifying ahead of their two-legged tie with Switzerland.
The first of the games will be played at the National Stadium at Windsor Park on November 9th followed by the return clash on Sunday.
The Swiss have lost just one game in their last 10 – crucially that defeat came in the last group game at the hands of Portugal.
As a result, they lost out on an automatic qualification spot.
O’Neill is not bothered about the Swiss record.
But he did reveal that he was pleased to have avoided Italy or Croatia.
“We are pleased with the draw,'' he said. We are pleased we missed Italy and Croatia in particular and Switzerland will be a formidable opponent but I do believe it is an opponent we can overcome.
“With the first leg at home, we have to take something from that and take a positive result to Switzerland. And with the second leg away, it gives you the benefit of an away goal and the consequences of that - it's going to be a very difficult game but one we are capable of winning over 180 minutes.''
The Republic, meanwhile, take on Denmark.
And while Martin O'Neill insists it is still a tough ask, he did admit to satisfaction at missing out on a tie against the Azzurri.
Naturally as an unseeded team the draw was going to be difficult,'' Martin O'Neill told Sky Sports News.
I'm delighted to be drawn away from home first. Italy were in the group and I suppose if you were to ask all of the unseeded coaches, none of us would have wanted to play Italy."