IFA Programme 2016

MANAGER’S VIEW It is always difficult to come back down to earth after a particularly exciting and uplifting experience. While no-one will ever be able to erase the memories of the summer past in France, we now need to bank that and move on to World Cup qualification. Football, as we all know, encapsulates the full gamut of human emotions – excitement, anticipation, fear, anxiety, even disappointment and we experienced them all over the duration of the Euro finals. I don’t think that I have been as proud in my footballing career as I was to lead this team, this group of players to a major finals and to enjoy the highs and lows of the tournament. And our homecoming was particularly humbling as we could see the palpable support and how our performances had lifted the whole country from young and old, from north to south and east to west. However, resting on our laurels is not an option and the next challenge is to qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018. We have found ourselves in a difficult group and many challenges lie ahead, but I believe that the experience gained in the Euros and the momentum that winning and success brings will play a powerful part in our preparation for the matches. We have already earned a hard-fought point away from home in Prague and now we must follow it up with a victory tonight against San Marino (and it would be extremely foolish to underestimate our opponents tonight) before heading to Germany to play the world champions on Tuesday next.

My job will be to ensure that the squad are fully focused on the match and not to let any distractions surrounding the stadium opening interfere with their readiness. Tonight must be about goals and a victory rather than photo opportunities and selfies, but knowing this group of players as I do I am confident that having tasted success in France they will want to have more of it and not let anything else get in the way of their ambitions. I know that I am fully focused on this challenge and that with the tremendous support that you can give us – now on all four sides of this magnificent stadium – we can achieve more success. Congratulations to all involved in the development of the stadium and to you, the fans, who have been recognised both by the city of Paris and by UEFA for your friendliness, fair play attitude and dedication. These accolades are well deserved and I salute you all for this. Since the Euros Stephen Robinson has moved on to become manager of Oldham Athletic and I would like to thank him for his work with this squad and wish him well for the next period of his career. So after all the Euro 2016 fuss we are back to qualification business and I am confident that tonight we will provide a winning start to our home matches and take it into the rest of the campaign. Thanks again for your support. Michael O’Neill Northern Ireland Manager

5

www.irishfa.com