Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland should treat their 5-1 demolition through Sweden as a finding out revel in, caution things will get more difficult nonetheless in World Cup qualifying.
Northern Ireland have been blown away in Tuesday’s pleasant in Stockholm, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga the various aims.
Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren and Ken Sema were also on course for Sweden, who have scored 5 or greater aims in returned-to-returned domicile internationals for the primary time since 1957, having crushed Azerbaijan 6-zero remaining time out on domicile soil.
Northern Ireland, in the meantime, conceded greater pursuits in Tuesday’s defeat than that they had across their final eight internationals mixed (four), since a 5-1 loss to Spain final June.
Speaking after the game, O’Neill praised his avid gamers’ utility and outlined his view that the ultimate scoreline did no longer surely reflect the stability of play.
“We most likely didn’t come the following to have a scoreline like we had tonight, yet we knew it'd be a troublesome recreation,” suggested O’Neill.
“In all honesty, the perspective of the staff used to be full-size. They in no way stopped trying to play. It used to be a powerful night time but that’s why we took a activity like this.
“I feel five-1 is might be a bit of harsh on us yet at the free fixed matches no payment give up of the day we did supply them alternatives, and at this stage they are going to punish you.
“But we’re asking a lot of younger gamers who aren’t playing each week for his or her golf equipment. They usually are not uncovered to this stage and this exceptional of player.”
Sweden merely simply outshot Northern Ireland, having 16 tries and dealing with 14, despite the fact that their percentages had a complete value of three.02 anticipated objectives (xG) to Northern Ireland’s 1.06.
The next overseas damage sees Northern Ireland face a further pleasant in opposition t Scandinavian opposition in Iceland, beforehand of World Cup qualifiers towards Luxembourg and Germany in September.
“You constantly be trained in worldwide football. Our workforce is made from avid gamers who play inside the Championship and League One,” O’Neill persevered.
“They were gambling in opposition to players who play at the proper point in the major leagues.
“That’s the difference. The physicality and the rate turned into a difficulty for us but it’s one we’re going to need to sort out.
“There’s another degree above this – we should pass and play Germany – so we realize what’s in store yet we are able to purely get more desirable if we expose ourselves to this point of opposition.”