1 week Ago By Vincent Whelan
MICHAEL O’NEILL believes it would be ‘unfair’ for Northern Ireland to give up home advantage for a Nations League promotion shootout against Belarus next month. Further talks are due to take place between the Irish FA, UK Government and Uefa this week. But it is possible that the Belarus squad and officials will not be granted entry visas given the restrictions placed on the country after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
SunSport understands the IFA are exploring potential neutral venues in Europe as a back-up plan. But after Tuesday’s 5-0 demolition of Bulgaria at Windsor Park, O’Neill is desperate for his young side to play in front of their own fans. The former Shamrock Rovers chief said: “It’ll be unfair on us if we’re not allowed because we’ll end up with four away games and two of them at neutral venues.
“The decision is out of our hands and we’ll have to deal with it. “The important thing was to focus on how we played against Bulgaria and then to take that into the next game wherever that might be.” O’Neill also revealed he used the uncertainty around next month’s home tie to motivate his players, not knowing when they might get to play in front of the Green and White Army next.
He said: “Players have to enjoy playing here and I said to them before the game that we may not get the chance to play here in November. “I told them to give the crowd something to remember and they did with their performance.” O’Neill chose Liverpool star Conor Bradley to captain the side during this international camp after Trai Hume performed the duties last month.
Bradley was once again outstanding during the double-header. And he admits wearing the armband was a special feeling at Windsor Park. The defender said: “It’s probably one of the biggest honours of my life.
“I’ll leave it to Michael to see who he sees fit to be the captain long term. “It is the biggest honour of my life, I’m so proud and my family is the same. “I was really happy for everybody as they were all outstanding.
“Isaac Price got a hat-trick, while Shea Charles and Ali McCann were excellent in midfield. “It was just a superb performance.”.
