Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland must deal with their 5-1 demolition by Sweden as a mastering trip, warning issues will get tougher nevertheless in World Cup qualifying.
Northern Ireland were blown away in Tuesday’s friendly in Stockholm, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga the various objectives.
Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren and Ken Sema were additionally not off course for Sweden, who've scored five or greater desires in again-to-lower back homestead internationals for the primary time when you consider that 1957, having beaten Azerbaijan 6-zero remaining time out on domicile soil.
Northern Ireland, meanwhile, conceded greater dreams in Tuesday’s defeat than that they had across their final 8 internationals blended (four), due to the fact a five-1 loss to Spain final June.
Speaking after the sport, O’Neill praised his gamers’ utility and outlined his view that the very last scoreline did not particularly reflect the stability of play.
“We needless to say didn’t come here to have a scoreline like we had this night, however we knew it'd be a difficult activity,” reported O’Neill.
“In all honesty, the mind-set of the workforce was once superb. They certainly not stopped looking to play. It became a troublesome nighttime yet that’s why we took a video game like this.
“I imagine 5-1 is perchance a bit of harsh on us but at the give up of the day we did give them alternatives, and at this degree they may punish you.
“But we’re asking a number of younger players who aren’t gambling every week football fixed matches for his or her clubs. They aren't exposed to this point and this quality of player.”
Sweden best simply outshot Northern Ireland, having 16 attempts and facing 14, though their probabilities had a total cost of three.02 expected aims (xG) to Northern Ireland’s 1.06.
The subsequent world destroy sees Northern Ireland face a further friendly in opposition to Scandinavian competition in Iceland, in advance of World Cup qualifiers towards Luxembourg and Germany in September.
“You consistently gain knowledge of in international soccer. Our staff is made up of gamers who play within the Championship and League One,” O’Neill endured.
“They have been enjoying opposed to avid gamers who play on the exact level inside the appropriate leagues.
“That’s the change. The physicality and the velocity become a hindrance for us yet it’s one we’re going to should manage.
“There’s an additional level above this – we have to pass and play Germany – so we comprehend what’s in retailer yet we will purely get enhanced if we disclose ourselves to this level of competition.”