Step Right Up & Get Your Seats Ready: See The Stars Perform 'The Star-Spangled Banner'!
Michael O'Neill is attempting to guide Northern Ireland to a first World Cup since 1986 [Getty Images] Michael O'Neill says qualification for the World Cup would be "as good as anything that any Northern Ireland team has done". Northern Ireland travel to Italy in a play-off semi-final on 26 March and are big underdogs against Gennaro Gattuso's side. If they can stun the four-time World Cup winners, who have failed to qualify for the past two editions of the tournament, then a trip to Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina awaits in the play-off final.
The overall prize is a place in Group B at the World Cup, alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. It would be a monumental effort for Northern Ireland to reach a first World Cup in 40 years, and that is something O'Neill is well aware of. "If this team can achieve this, it would be as good as anything that any Northern Ireland team has done, to go through two away games and get to a World Cup," he told BBC Sport NI.
"It's a huge challenge, but we have the opportunity to write our names into the history of football here in Northern Ireland. "We intend to do everything possible to try and take it. " Ballard included in NI squad as Morrison called up Who is 'leader' Morrison - the uncapped winger in NI squad?
One manager, two jobs - how will O'Neill's situation work? O'Neill already knew he would be without Liverpool defender Conor Bradley after he injured his knee in the Premier League against Arsenal in January. Sunderland defender Dan Ballard is also a doubt for the game after he sustained a hamstring injury in the defeat by Brighton, but has been included in O'Neill's 28-man squad.
When asked what challenges the hosts will pose in Bergamo, O'Neill said: "Well, they're Italy, aren't they? " "It's going to be a very, very tough game. There's no doubt about that," he added in his news conference.
Continue to the original source for the full article.