"I think we've come on quite a lot in the last few campaigns, the Nations League and this [qualifying] campaign and I think we just need to try and keep continuing on that upwards trajectory, We definitely won't fear anyone. I think it's all to play for and it's two games away from a World Cup so there's no point fearing anyone."
"Any game where you come away from home, it's always going to be so difficult but I think the more you get experience of these situations the more you can definitely learn from it and hopefully we can do that, It's nice to get a play-off. Obviously it's going to be brilliant. It's going to be difficult, but we're really looking forward to it. We're two games away from being at a World Cup which is pretty special."
Northern Ireland will enter the March play-offs as Nations League group winners after losing to Slovakia, rather than as higher-seeded qualifying runners-up. The play-off draw could pair Northern Ireland with high-ranked teams such as Italy, Turkey or Poland, with Pot Three and Four teams obliged to play semi-finals away from home. The team have registered only two competitive away wins since December 2022, against San Marino and Luxembourg, highlighting the challenge of away fixtures. The squad expresses confidence and focus on continuing recent progress, viewing the play-offs as two matches that could secure World Cup qualification.
Read at www.bbc.com
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