Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland must treat their 5-1 demolition by way of Sweden as a mastering journey, warning matters gets more difficult still in World Cup qualifying.
Northern Ireland had been blown away in Tuesday’s friendly in Stockholm, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga one of the pursuits.
Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren and Ken Sema have been additionally heading in the right direction for Sweden, who have scored five or more pursuits in back-to-back house internationals for the first time considering 1957, having crushed Azerbaijan 6-zero remaining day out on home soil.
Northern Ireland, in the meantime, conceded more pursuits in Tuesday’s defeat than that they had throughout their last eight internationals mixed (four), considering a 5-1 loss to Spain final June.
Speaking after the game, O’Neill praised his players’ utility and defined his view that the closing scoreline did not rather reflect the stability of play.
“We evidently didn’t come the following to have a scoreline like we had tonight, but we knew it might be a hard game,” stated O’Neill.
“In all honesty, the mindset of the crew become brilliant. They by no means stopped seeking to play. It was once a hard night yet that’s why we took a video game like this.
“I assume 5-1 is per chance just a little harsh on us yet on the end of the day we did deliver them possibilities, and at this stage they're going to punish you.
“But we’re asking loads of young players who aren’t enjoying each and every week for his or her clubs. They don't seem to Correct Score fixed matches be uncovered to this degree and this quality of player.”
Sweden merely just outshot Northern Ireland, having 16 makes an attempt and facing 14, nevertheless their options had a complete significance of three.02 expected aims (xG) to Northern Ireland’s 1.06.
The subsequent overseas holiday sees Northern Ireland face a different friendly towards Scandinavian opposition in Iceland, beforehand of World Cup qualifiers in opposition to Luxembourg and Germany in September.
“You all the time learn in world football. Our staff is made of gamers who play inside the Championship and League One,” O’Neill persevered.
“They had been gambling in opposition t avid gamers who play on the peak point in the high leagues.
“That’s the big difference. The physicality and the rate used to be a hindrance for us but it’s one we’re going to have got to contend with.
“There’s one other point above this – we must move and play Germany – so we realize what’s in shop however we will be able to simply get bigger if we disclose ourselves to this stage of opposition.”