So near yet so far as NI exit the World Cup stage after Swiss stalemate
O'Neill pays tribute to his players still feeling sense of injustice from 1st leg
After the shocking injustice in Belfast it was heart-break in Basel as Northern Ireland’s brave bid for a place in the World Cup finals ended last night in tears.
Michael O’Neill’s men played the game of their lives at St Jakob-Park.
But a scoreless draw meant Switzerland progressed instead – having won 1-0 in the first leg after the penalty that should never have been.
Both Conor Washington and Jonny Evans went close on the night with headers – Evans effort being cleared off the line by Ricardo Rodriguez – while the Swiss also had their fair share of chances.
But this was a very different Northern Ireland performance from the first leg at Windsor.
O’Neill’s side fought for every ball against top-class players, all playing at the highest level in Germany, Italy, Spain and the Premiership.
After the game the manager paid tribute to his team and said he was “immensely proud” of each and every one.
But that sense of injustice from the first time the two sides met, was still very much clear in his mind.
He said without the shocking decision by the referee to award a penalty combined with a clear red-card tackle on Stuart Dallas, they would have been still very much in the game.
When they dust settles on their exit, there will be speculation as to not just O’Neill’s future but also several players including Gareth McAuley and Aaron Hughes both in their late 30s