Reality Czech for NI as O'Neill warns job not done just yet
Northern Ireland pushing for second spot in Group C
Northern Ireland go into their second World Cup qualifier in three days –knowing that just a point will be enough to secure second spot in Group C.
But Michael O’Neill has warned against getting too far ahead of themselves – and has banished all thoughts of Russia.
“If we do get second place it is a fantastic achievement but it doesn’t guarantee us a place in Russia.The players know that, I know that,” he said.
“We are here to play a very difficult opponent - It is not going to be a party – it is going to be a very very difficult game.
“We have to be realistic. We have nothing to celebrate just yet in the sense that we have to play a play –off game.
“There is an awful lot of football still to be played.”
A sell-out crowd will arrive at the National Stadium at Windsor Park later to help push O’Neill’s side over the line and help them take a significant step on the road to Russia.
They made history on Friday night after beating San Marino 3-0 in the first of the double header qualifying games.
This was the first time a NI team had won four games on the bounce.
If they qualify for the finals they will become the first in history to make successive major tournaments, having qualified for the Euro Knockout stages last year.
In the last nyro the Eurooru Russia they will become the first tgave themselves a superb chance
Northern Ireland have risen to 23rd in the world rankings having followed up their success at the Euros by taking 16 points from a possible 21 in this qualification campaign.
They have kept six clean sheets from seven in that time - a figure only England could match after the equivalent number of fixtures - and O'Neill has seen improvement 12 months on from the day they began their campaign.
“We're a small country and to be where we are in the rankings and in terms of qualification, I think the players deserve enormous credit,'' he added.
“The biggest challenge after France was to maintain (our levels) but I think we've actually brought it on a level.'