Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates scoring his team's second goal
Northern Ireland have enough
tools to get a result in their final group match against a fallible
German team, Northern Ireland's coach Michael O'Neill said on Monday.
Having already beaten Ukraine after narrowly losing to Poland in
their opening game, the unfancied Northern Ireland team could qualify
even if they lose to the world champions on Tuesday at the Parc des
Princes.
But O'Neil said his team were aiming for more.
"The Germans are a very strong team. We are aware that there are
weaknesses in the German team," he said, highlighting the fact that
Poland arguably had the better chances against Joachim Loew's side.
"We're a good counter-attacking team. No team is flawless and the
Germans have proved they have flaws as well. There are opportunities
there for us," O'Neill said.
The last time Northern Ireland beat Germany -- or West Germany as it
then was -- was 1983 during the golden years of their national side.
But they lost 4-1 in their last meeting, a friendly in 2005.
O'Neill said it was important
his team are not flash in the pans, and instead establish a new dynamic
after securing their first qualification for an international tournament
in 30 years.
O'Neill, lauded for what was deemed a gamble against Ukraine when he
made five changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Poland in the opening
game, played down his tactical acumen, saying that much of the side had
played in the qualifiers.
"Whatever team we play it will be fresh, ready to play and if we make
changes they will be well-versed and tactically aware of how to play,"
he said.
"What we will bring to the game is an intensity and spirit for however long the game lasts."
When asked about the prospect of being rewarded for a third-place
Group C finish with a possible game against the hosts France, O'Neill
said it would be a dream.
"At this minute in time I'm just trying to take the Germans, and then we'll take the French and the Spanish," he joked.
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