Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland must deal with their 5-1 demolition with the aid of Sweden as a mastering sense, warning issues will get harder still in World Cup qualifying.
Northern Ireland had been blown away in Tuesday’s pleasant in Stockholm, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga a number of the objectives.
Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren and Ken Sema had been additionally heading in the right direction for Sweden, who've scored five or more aims in to come back-to-returned abode internationals for the 1st time given that 1957, having overwhelmed Azerbaijan 6-0 last time out on homestead soil.
Northern Ireland, meanwhile, conceded greater goals in Tuesday’s defeat than they had across their last 8 internationals mixed (four), when you consider that a five-1 loss to Spain closing June.
Speaking after the sport, O’Neill praised his avid gamers’ software and mentioned his view that the remaining scoreline did not fixed match fairly mirror the steadiness of play.
“We clearly didn’t come here to have a scoreline like we had tonight, yet we knew it'd be a tough sport,” observed O’Neill.
“In all honesty, the perspective of the crew was marvelous. They certainly not stopped attempting to play. It turned into a hard night time yet that’s why we took a recreation like this.
“I believe 5-1 is probably a bit harsh on us yet at the cease of the day we did give them alternatives, and at this degree they may punish you.
“But we’re asking a great deal of younger avid gamers who aren’t taking part in each week for his or her golf equipment. They don't seem to be uncovered to this level and this satisfactory of participant.”
Sweden basically simply outshot Northern Ireland, having sixteen makes an attempt and dealing with 14, regardless that their possibilities had a total value of three.02 predicted ambitions (xG) to Northern Ireland’s 1.06.
The next world damage sees Northern Ireland face an extra pleasant against Scandinavian competition in Iceland, forward of World Cup qualifiers towards Luxembourg and Germany in September.
“You forever be trained in foreign soccer. Our workforce is made up of gamers who play within the Championship and League One,” O’Neill persisted.
“They had been gambling opposed to avid gamers who play at the best point in the higher leagues.
“That’s the difference. The physicality and the velocity turned into a hindrance for us but it’s one we’re going to have to cope with.
“There’s one more stage above this – we ought to go and play Germany – so we comprehend what’s in retailer yet we will be able to simplest get bigger if we disclose ourselves to this point of opposition.”