This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/oct/15/northern-ireland-greek-triumph-secret-success

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Northern Ireland’s Greek triumph: what is the secret of their success? Northern Ireland’s Greek triumph: what is the secret of their success?
(about 5 hours later)
It was a chance encounter with Kyle Lafferty at Heathrow which first gave an intriguing insight into the seemingly irresistible force swirling around Northern Ireland. It was a chance encounter with Kyle Lafferty at Heathrow which gave an insight into the seemingly irresistible force swirling around Northern Ireland.
The striker, now with Norwich City following lively spells abroad with Sion and Palermo, embodies the inner steel engineered by three successive victories in Euro 2016 qualifying Group F, under the astute, measured guidance of manager Michael O’Neill. The striker, now with Norwich City following spells with Sion and Palermo, embodies the inner steel engineered by three successive victories in Euro 2016 qualifying under the astute guidance of Michael O’Neill.
Lafferty – en route to Budapest with his team-mates last month – quietly and emphatically declared that he could not wait to “get right at” Hungary. This kind of bravado is hardly groundbreaking, but it was a new slant from the often shaky, diffident approach from previous Northern Ireland sides on their travels. Lafferty, en route to Budapest with his team-mates last month, declared he could not wait to “get right at” Hungary. This kind of bravado is hardly groundbreaking, but it was a new slant after the often diffident approach of previous Northern Ireland sides on their travels. The forward was as good as his word, leading the line superbly before scoring a winner.
The rangy forward was subsequently as good as his word, leading the line superbly before foraging a winner to set the tone for this fine odyssey for the men in green. Northern Ireland’s 2-0 victory in Greece on Tuesday took many by surprise. But the performance for long spells in Athens echoed that of their opening fixture: calm, disciplined and mature in possession.
Northern Ireland’s 2-0 victory in Greece on Tuesday night has taken many by surprise. Nevertheless, the performance for long spells in Athens echoed that of their opening fixture: calm, disciplined and mature in possession. While the Greece coach, Claudio Ranieri, stood virtually helpless – barely even tinkering – as his side flopped in the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, O’Neill stuck to his gameplan. It was remarkable to see how Northern Ireland took the sting out of their hosts. After last weekend’s home win over the Faroe Islands, O’Neill had said his players would relish the white-hot atmosphere in Athens.
Overcoming Hungary and the Greek top seeds, with Lafferty scoring against both, has raised the bar. Not one, but two, psychological boosters – and the message will have been driven home by O’Neill. And so it proved. Irrespective of how poor Greece were on the night, these are watershed times for Northern Ireland, where a generation of fans have failed to witness their country feature in a major tournament. Veterans of Billy Bingham’s sides who reached the 1982 and 1986 World Cups are speaking of parallels between then and now.
While the Greece coach Claudio Ranieri stood virtually helpless – barely even tinkering – as his jaded side flopped in the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, O’Neill stuck diligently to his gameplan. It was remarkable to see how Northern Ireland took the sting out of their hosts. Of course, this reawakening could be premature. But with O’Neill’s men topping the group, there is a feeling that Northern Ireland’s time has arrived. Significantly, there is intense, collective focus. The central defensive pair Gareth McAuley and Aaron Hughes, plus the holding midfielder Chris Baird, are making the most of their Indian summers. They, along with the 37-year-old goalkeeper Roy Carroll, know these qualifiers probably represent their last tilt with the national side. Carroll has been a rock in this campaign so far.
In a prescient moment, following last weekend’s home win over the Faroe Islands, O’Neill alluded to the fact that his players – who played in the surreal setting of just two open stands at a Windsor Park under reconstruction – would relish the white-hot atmosphere in Athens. The team’s success has probably startled the low-key O’Neill a little, too. Consider that in the last World Cup qualifiers the Ulstermen finished fifth in their group, only a point above Luxembourg, and this is quite some turnaround. The nadir, a 3-2 defeat in the Grand Duchy just over a year ago, had seven of the current regulars on board, yet many of this squad were also responsible for beating Russia in Belfast and drawing in Portugal in the same campaign.
And so it proved. Irrespective of how poor Greece were on the night, these are watershed times for Northern Ireland, where a whole generation of its fans have lived without witnessing their country feature in a major tournament. Ambitious, excitable chat is audible, and veterans of Billy Bingham’s legendary sides who reached the 1982 and 1986 World Cups are speaking positively of parallels between then and now. A summer trip to face Uruguay and Chile helped Northern Ireland build the consistency they have craved, and complacency against minnows has been eradicated. Two of their toughest tests have already been accounted for but Romania in Bucharest on 14 November will be another challenge.
Of course, this reawakening could be premature. However, there is a feeling, as O’Neill’s men top the group, with both the Hungarians and Greeks appearing laboured, that Northern Ireland’s time has arrived. Three wins from three games, a fresh, floaty atmosphere in the camp. Old stories of one-off triumphs over England and Spain have been regularly recycled, but this is different, advanced, territory. The previously wayward Lafferty, an absolute handful for opponents, is helping to fill the gap left by the retired David Healy. Others in the ranks speak of a cosy environment and are grateful for their international exposure. The wing-back Shane Ferguson, on the margins at Newcastle United, excelled in Athens. Then there is the emerging right-back Conor McLaughlin. It is some contrast between Fleetwood Town and the home city of the Acropolis, but the 23-year-old shone. O’Neill need not have worried about frailty in the absence of the injured Jonny Evans.
The mature attitude of the previously wayward Lafferty, an absolute handful for opponents, is belatedly helping to fill the gap left by the retired gunslinger David Healy. The “Kyle High Club”, as one headline amusingly nailed it. Preparations for the last two games were affected by O’Neill’s assistant Billy McKinlay accepting the manager’s post at Watford – only to last eight days. The Scot may return to the international fold at some point as this campaign evolves.
Significantly, there is intense, collective focus. The central defensive pair Gareth McAuley and Aaron Hughes, plus the holding midfielder Chris Baird, are making capital of their respective Indian Summers. They, along with the 37-year-old veteran goalkeeper Roy Carroll, know these qualifiers towards the finals in France realistically represent their last tilt with the national side. Carroll has been a rock in this campaign so far. O’Neill, who signed a two-year contract extension last November, eschews long-ball tedium and insists on simple possession and crisp passing. It has taken time, but the philosophy is paying dividends. Pragmatism has been O’Neill’s credo since he succeededNigel Worthington in February 2012, and how well it is serving Northern Ireland now. To go to Athens and quieten a volatile Greek support suggests the Irish are heading not for a play-off place but winning the group itself.
The elevation has probably startled the determinedly low-key O’Neill a little, too. Considering in the last World Cup qualifiers the Ulstermen finished fifth in their group, only a point above Luxembourg, this is quite a turnaround. The nadir, a 3-2 defeat in the Grand Duchy just over a year ago, had seven current regulars on board. A desperate night, yet many of this upbeat squad were responsible for beating Russia in Belfast and drawing in Portugal over the same campaign.
Changed days now – particularly since a South American summer trip to face Uruguay and Chile where narrow defeats were part of an overall bonding process. Northern Ireland have the consistency they’ve craved, complacency against minnows has been eradicated, all added to the new-found capability of winning away.
Intriguingly, two of Northern Ireland’s toughest tests have already been accounted for. Romania in Bucharest on 14 November will naturally be another challenge, but their coach Victor Piturca will be quickly reviewing this surprise threat.
Others in the Northern Irish ranks speak of a cosy environment and are grateful for their international exposure. The wing-back Shane Ferguson, on the margins at Newcastle United, excelled in Athens. Then there is the emerging right-back Conor McLaughlin. It is some contrast from Fleetwood Town to the shadow of the Acropolis, but the 23-year-old has shone. O’Neill need not have worried about a potential frailty minus the injured Jonny Evans.
The pre-Faroes and Greece preparations were hit by a curveball when O’Neill’s assistant Billy McKinlay accepted the manager’s post at Watford – only to last an ill-fated eight days. The Scot may yet return to the international fold at some point as the campaign evolves.
O’Neill, who signed a two-year contract extension last November, eschews long-ball tedium, and his insistence on simple possession and crisp passing is warmly received by those who chime with this approach, such as 71-times capped skipper Steven Davis. It has taken time, but the careful philosophy is gently paying dividends.
Such pragmatism has been O’Neill’s credo since succeeding Nigel Worthington in February 2012, but how well it is serving Northern Ireland right now. Indeed, to go to Athens and comfortably quieten a characteristically volatile Greek support suggests that the Irish are heading, not for a play-off place, but to winning the group itself.
Managing loftier expectations is the new O’Neill brief. A French fancy for Northern Ireland? Believe it.Managing loftier expectations is the new O’Neill brief. A French fancy for Northern Ireland? Believe it.