NORTHERN IRELAND CAN take a step closer to the 2018 World Cup when they take on Czech Republic on Monday as victory or a draw would guarantee a second-place finish in Group C.
Michael O’Neill’s team picked up their fifth win of qualifying on Friday when they defeated San Marino 3-0 and will be full of confidence as they prepare to welcome the Czechs to Belfast.
The stakes are much higher for Karel Jarolim and his side as anything less than a win would extinguish their hopes of reaching the tournament in Russia next year.
The match will be available to watch live on television on Sky Sports Mix and by stream via Sky Go.
Northern Ireland are without defenders Gareth McAuley and Craig Cathcart due to injury. Hearts defender Michael Smith and uncapped Leeds United goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell have been called up, but neither featured in the matchday squad against San Marino.
The Czechs came through their match against Germany unscathed and, having nearly secured a 1-1 draw, are unlikely to make major changes.
Ladislav Krejci and Jan Kliment will hope to push for a start having made an impact off the bench in Prague.
Northern Ireland can potentially go 10 points clear of their nearest rivals Czech Republic when the two teams meet at Windsor Park on Monday evening.
The Green and White Army held the Czechs to a scoreless draw when they met in Prague last September and they will be determined to go one better with the backing of their fans at home.
Manager Michael O’Neill has presided over an incredible upturn in fortunes since taking the reins in 2012 and, after guiding the team to the European Championship in 2016, he has his sights set on securing a place in the World Cup in 2018.
Northern Ireland have not featured at the tournament since 1986, but if they can avoid defeat against Czech Republic, they move a small bit closer towards ending a three-decade hiatus from the most prestigious football competition in the world.
O’Neill is determined to achieve that goal and he has issued a chilling pre-match rallying cry to his players about snatching all hope from their visitors on Monday.
The focus is on ourselves, we know we’re going to have to play extremely well and produce a big performance,” the former Shamrock Rovers boss told the Belfast Telegraph.
“But it is one of those games where the psychological side of the game will be huge.
“It’s going to be a difficult game for them if they go behind, to continue to believe. We have to try to make that (happen) and try to take whatever hope they have away from them early in the game.”
Meanwhile, Germany host Norway in the other big game in the group on Monday in Stuttgart.
Victory against the Norwegians will seal Germany’s place at next year’s World Cup in Russia, providing Group C rivals Northern Ireland fail to beat the Czech Republic.
Northern Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Carroll, McGovern, Mannus, Peacock-Farrell Defenders: Hughes, J. Evans, Brunt, C. McLaughlin, R. McLaughlin, Smith, Hodson, D. Lafferty, Thompson, Flanagan Midfielders: Davis, McGinn, Norwood, C. Evans, Ferguson, Dallas, Paton, Lund Forwards: K. Lafferty, Magennis, Washington, McCartan
Northern Ireland potential starting XI: McGovern; C. McLaughlin, Hughes, Evans, Brunt; Dallas, Davis, Norwood, Ferguson; Magennis, Lafferty.
Czech Republic potential starting XI: Vaclik; Gebre Selassie, Kalas, Suchy, Novak, Boril; Krejci, Soucek, Darida, Jankto; Krmencik.
Additional reporting by AFP
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Decent game to watch… Liverpool not amazing by any stretch tonight but results like that is how you become champions….fair play to them…it’s their year.
@Billy Big Baws: it’s obviously thier year.. But salah and mane are a disgrace at times, make them very unlikeable players. Cheating When there’s no Need
@Billy Big Baws: oh shut up
@Ross: stop!! Nonsense
@Ross: Yeah but that’s not as bad as capital letters When there’s no Need :)
Epic stuff , no team is gonna play 100% and cruise through 38 league games comfortably, tonight was another uncomfortable one but this team just never gives up and keeps creating chances , begrudge at your peril , to have played 27 and won 26 at this stage of the season is phenomenal , on the back of being European and World champions and on the league run they have created … just appreciate ..
I could care less about results at this stage. Enjoyable game to watch though. End to end. Bobby Firmino got through some amount of work. Does everything right but can’t get a goal at home. Has to be one on the way for him. 3 points in the bag and miles in front
@my name: well done mick
@A: thanks Aido. Best of luck with that Mayo thing
@my name: If you could care less why don’t you? or do you not want to?
@eoin carroll: I’ve just noticed my typo there Eoin, could care less about “performance”. Thanks for pointing that out
@my name: embarrassing there Mick
@A: not half as bad as you forgetting what profile you were signed into
@my name: you couldn’t care less you mean?
@eoin carroll: that’s the one
Even when far from their best, this team keeps on winning. They are well on their way to being the most dominant league winners in the history of English top flight football.
To have equalled the league points tally of United’s treble winning side with 11 games to go is incredible. 4 more wins.
@Seàn Mc: possibly the most dominant winners of every league not just PL!
@Ado Smith: could happen but unlikely, I think PSG hold the record (in Europe anyway) with a 31 point lead. City’s English record of 19 points is definitely achievable though.
On the ball Paul, the live updates didn’t even have the full time score by the time this was up!
4 more thank you
Somebody will be on to say that it was a fluke / lucky / won by VAR. They were far from top of their game – hardly the first time this season – but that’s resilience.
It says a lot about the spirit and never give up attitude that Klopp has instilled in this team that when they losing with 25 minutes to go I was 100% certain of a win. Thanks Fabianski I hope you get a nice pay out if Liverpool do go unbeaten. If Salah, Mane and Firmino play like that against Atletico there will be no chance of a league/CL double.
@Ger Power: need a hug Ger ,aaw poor diddums:)
@Ger Power: it’s just one of those years for Liverpool
We got a glimpse of it last season Just enjoy it
They can’t even loose a coin toss this season
That’s the way it goes I guess
They’d want to defend better against Atletico Madrid that’s for sure. Firmino and Keita were so wasteful it was shocking.
@Ashley Rowland: Europe is not there priority this season
@James Lynch: That statement would hold some water if they were involved in a tight title race. The league is done and dusted and they are in a position where complete focus can shift to the Championz League. It’s only Poil fans that are throwing up that excuse in case they get knocked out by Ath Madrid.
@Pools Punter: haven’t seen many pool fans saying this, in fact he seems to be the first. Europe absolutely is a priority and they will have to do very well to get through the second leg of this tie.
LuckyPool get lucky again
@A: ……and not a Howard Webb in site!
@A: yeah dam var helping Liverpool again tonight… Oh wait.
@A: when you’re the best people always think you’re lucky.
@A: As I’ve said before A it is lucky being a Liverpool supporter and you can be one too. Go on… you know you want to.
@Manbackonboard: u do remember those white suits from 96
@A: Nope, I’m too young.
@A: LOL – You’re a United fan just bitter this LFC team will soon be considered the greatest ever team and so erasing the memory of United in ‘99, the jammiest ever bunch of flukes.
@Manbackonboard: To become a Liverpool supporter I’d need to move to England. No thanks!!
@james dimaggio: I don’t see anyone suggesting you become a Liverpool supporter in this thread? Unless…. no, wait, A, is that you? Oh Dear…
@Hakaman: Interesting statistic, this Liverpool team have now achieved the same points total as Man United’s ’99 team, 79 points with 11 games left to play!
@Roger Paltry: more competitive teams in 99
@A: Man United and Arsenal drew a third of their games (25 in total), Leeds and West Ham finished 4th and 5th. Do you want to have another go at that?
@james dimaggio: Oooops. You messed up there A.
@A: in any sport you make and earn your own luck
@james dimaggio: Liverpool is the capital of Dublin
@A: I remember those white suits very well. It had been six years since Liverpool won the league and the players were all loving stardom and not doing it on the pitch.. (reminds me of the social media hoors at a club who haven’t won the league in 7 years) Took quite a while to get back to the top for Liverpool. Here’s hoping it’s a good 23/24 years before we have to look at a United league win again.
@A: 26 wins out of 27 games. Yep, luck. Good man.
Disjointed performance, although I felt like it was similar to the Villa game back in…eh…long time ago..;-) Their muddlefield was just that…sloppy, slow, sticky…it never pushed on. Glad to see Trent got out of that horror show from last Tuesday…still..a win is a win..resilience, vigilance to the end prize…yeah..3 wins..3 draws in that order I’ll be happy..puts a few records to bed…
Out of Jail
The only thing that will stop Liverpool winning the title is the Corona Virus.It looks like it could be threat.I doubt if its going to get contained in Italy.
Arh the Liverpool of the eighties …. last minute winning goals snd then …….. obscurity. Lightning can’t strike the same spot – can it?
@Nigel Barlow: yes
@Nigel Barlow: the Liverpool of the 80’s, the teams that were preceded by the teams of the 70’s is that what you meant to say?