NI's O'Neill trains 'new look squad'

Published Wednesday, 01 August 2012

Northern Ireland are due back in action in a couple of weeks but, when Michael O'Neill took to the training pitch on Wednesday, he wasn't working with his regular squad ...

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The special training session at the Queen's University, Belfast playing fields saw the local media put through their paces by the international team manager.

According to O'Neill, the press pack took part in some of the same exercises he'd use with the Northern Ireland players - with one key difference.

I don't think I'll be calling any of them up, but it was a fun morning.
Michael O'Neill, NI

"Obviously I'd hope the standards are a bit higher than what we saw this morning," the manager laughed.

"To be fair though, the lads applied themselves well."

Getting back to business though, O'Neill told UTV his side were relishing the chance to take on Russia in their World Cup Qualifier in Moscow in September.

"I think the players' focus is greater when it comes to the competitive internationals," he said.

"And certainly, for the World Cup campaign and our away fixture at Russia, we couldn't ask for a more difficult game. But it's a game I'm looking forward to."

And to find how UTV's own Colm McAlinden fared in a fiercely-contested penalty shoot-out - and what Michael O'Neill thought of his performance in goals - check out our video!

Comments

13 Comments

s magowan in belfast wrote (318 days ago):

Maybe the Englishmen posting are unaware that up until the late 1940s there was just one football association on this island,until the bigots in Dublin decided to breakaway and form one of their own ie the FAI.

Mark in Northern Ireland wrote (320 days ago):

To Laura from Antrim, can you get a Scottish, Welsh or English passport? no they all have British passports, so does that mean they are not countries? Northern Ireland has been a regonised country from 1921 fact. If you choose to hold an irish passport that is your choice ands i respect that. So why can you not accept the majority of this country ( NORTHERN IRELAND ) are proud to be from Northern Ireland and we are entitled to have our own national team. If the nationalist community wants to support ROI that is their choice, but the fact is Northern Ireland excists and the people of it have the right to have their own identidy. To Mark from London, you speak of this place the North? the name of this country is NORTHERN Ireland, the term North is disrespectful to the citizens. I am not Irish, iam Northern Irish and hold a British passport. Northern Ireland and ROI are two seperate countries have a border seperating them full stop. just because ignorant on historical and political facts does not make you right. Why should the people of Northern Ireland sacrifice its team? My country has no rugby nor cricket team.

Frosty in Here wrote (320 days ago):

@Mark in London, you're right mate, unless it's to do with Olympic medals or whatever, if an Englishman (or woman) wins, they're English, if within the UK but not English, they're British through and through.

Mark in London wrote (320 days ago):

The people of the north are Irish from Ireland, some of the population see themselves as British. And hold a British passport. You have Dual citizenship, count yourself lucky. And by the way it is much better to have an Irish passport than a British one. Ireland has one rugby team, one cricket team. Ireland should have one football team also. Here in england we see people from Ireland as Irish. Whether your from east or west. You are irish living in ireland. Fullstop...... Regardless of what currency or passport you use.

Lauren in Antrim wrote (321 days ago):

Mark in Northern Ireland, there is no such nationality as "Northern Irish". Tell me, when did you get your Northern Irish passport? When on any form or website have you went to the "country" bit and ticked "Northern Ireland"?I legally hold my Irish passport so please explain to me why this is so if, as you say, Ireland is a "foreign" country? Could I get a French passport, afterall it's a foreign country too? You are either British or Irish. Northern Ireland is not a country, fact. People like you need to start respecting that in NI you have dual nationality so can classify yourself as either Irish or British. Just like I respect the fact that you classify yourself as British, I wouldn't dream of arguing against what you see as your identity. Wake up.

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