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Norway national football team
World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage
Oct 8, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
Northern Ireland national football team

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Michael O'Neill: 'Northern Ireland not leaving playoff qualification to chance'

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill insists that he is taking nothing for granted, with the Green and White Army close to securing a World Cup qualifying playoff place.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill has vowed to take nothing for granted, with his side on the verge of securing a World Cup qualifying playoff place.

O'Neill's charges are guaranteed second place in Group C behind Germany regardless of the result of their final qualifier against Norway in Oslo on Sunday.

However, only eight of the nine second-placed teams in the groups advance to the playoffs, and Northern Ireland must wait on other results before their place in the next round is confirmed.

The Green and White Army will advance to the playoffs if Greece fail to beat Cyprus on Saturday, night but O'Neill will only focus on his own team and not leave qualification to chance.

"We're not going to approach the game like that," O'Neill told Sky Sports News. "I think when we beat the Czech Republic so many people misinterpreted that in the media and said that we had guaranteed a playoff place.

"We never thought that for one second. We obviously were delighted to guarantee ourselves second in the group but you can see the way the groups are finishing - so many teams still have so much to play for. We're in a strong position but equally we have to come here and make sure we take something from tomorrow night to make sure we guarantee ourselves the opportunity of a playoff place.

"We have to approach the game with the mindset of getting a result, make sure we're difficult to beat and obviously try to win the game as well. There are too many variables. We have to get the players in the right frame of mind, which they are. They know the job at hand and what's required of them tomorrow night."

Northern Ireland need a point from the game against Norway to ensure a World Cup playoff spot.

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Michael O'Neill during the Euro 2016 Group C match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland on July 16, 2016
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Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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