Belief, youth and defence - will NI cause Italy upset?

Michael O'Neill is looking to guide Northern Ireland to a first World Cup in 40 years [Getty Images] Watch the whole interview with Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill on YouTube "We have to believe, because if we don't believe, no-one else will, and that's how we have to approach the game. " When Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland step foot in Bergamo for their World Cup play-off with Italy, few will expect them to defeat the four-time champions. Gennaro Gattuso's side may not be the all-conquering team of old, but they still cannot be underestimated with a squad littered with Serie A and Premier League players.

O'Neill admits it is "very difficult to win" in Italy's backyard, but he is thankful that Northern Ireland "are still in the fight". "I've always said to the players, don't waste the opportunity," O'Neill told BBC Sport NI. "Every time you step on the pitch as an international player, you never know when it will be your last opportunity.

"So make sure that you embrace it and you do everything possible. " 'It's an opportunity to write our names in history' Magennis targets 100 caps as World Cup game looms Chiesa back in Italy squad for Northern Ireland play-off If Northern Ireland can topple Italy, then their reward will be another game on the road against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina. A place at a first World Cup in 40 years, alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland, is the ultimate prize.

It's as tricky a path to the World Cup as they could have been handed, but O'Neill says his young side, many of which will be in this position for the first time, will "embrace" what lies ahead. "I think if you get through the first game, it would be an amazing result for us. "I think we would just ride that wave into the second game, whoever that may be against, but away games are always tough.