SM
Thursday, March 28
Upcoming predictions and previews
BN
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Jun 11, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
NI

0-1

 
FT(HT: 0-0)
McNair (86')

Stuart Dallas: 'Unbelievable attitude can take Northern Ireland to Euro 2020'

:Headline: Stuart Dallas: 'Unbelievable attitude can take Northern Ireland to Euro 2020': ID:361862: from db_amp
Michael O'Neill's side are top of Group C.

Stuart Dallas believes a never-say-die attitude can carry Northern Ireland to Euro 2020 after they produced another late show to beat Belarus on Tuesday night.

Paddy McNair's 85th-minute goal in Borisov made it four wins out of four for Northern Ireland in Group C, and they now have the platform they need to try to upset either Germany or Holland in the battle for one of the top two spots.

Five of the seven goals Northern Ireland have scored in this campaign have arrived in the 75th minute or later, and all have proved vital with only one of their wins coming by more than a single goal.

"It's unbelievable," Dallas said. "It speaks volumes about the team and how far we've come and our never-say-die attitude."

Tuesday's 1-0 success came on the back of a 2-1 win over Estonia in Tallinn on Saturday, Northern Ireland's first maximum haul from an away double-header since boss Michael O'Neill was a player back in 1993.

"We've come out here to get six points in these two games and we've done that," Dallas added.

"Especially at this stage of the season it is difficult with us being out of season.

"The shape we've kept ourselves in, the fitness levels and the preparation Michael and the staff have put in in Manchester at two training camps, another in Austria and then the two games, it's been a long couple of weeks. But it's all worthwhile."

  1. Northern Ireland - 12 points
  2. Germany - 9
  3. Holland - 3
  4. Belarus - 0
  5. Estonia - 0

With home and away games against Germany and Holland still to come, Northern Ireland have plenty of hard work still ahead if they are to qualify for a second consecutive European Championship, but they have given themselves the best possible chance.

"People maybe thought we'd just settle with (Euro 2016) but it says a lot about this group of players that we don't want to just sit and talk about that forever," Dallas said.

"We want to go again. We narrowly missed out on the World Cup and we've given ourselves a tremendous chance now to go and achieve something special but we won't get carried away.

“It speaks volumes about the team and how far we've come and our never-say-die attitude”
- Stuart Dallas

"Four wins out of four is brilliant but we'll enjoy it, regroup and go again in September."

As the players celebrated in the Borisov Arena changing rooms, veteran defender Aaron Hughes bid an emotional farewell to the game, hanging up his boots at the age of 39.

And Dallas joked it was no coincidence that he did so after watching McNair's first international goal.

"I'm delighted for Paddy," the versatile Leeds player said. "Hughesy said after he wasn't retiring until Paddy scored, so he can go out on a high now!"

amp_article__361862 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-06-13 05:31:53:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 23:21:36 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Stuart Dallas

Click here for more stories about Northern Ireland

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .