Michael O’Neill wants a win in the UEFA Nations League tonight to continue his team’s upward trajectory ahead of World Cup qualifiers next year.
Northern Ireland only need a draw against Luxembourg to top UNL League C Group 3 and earn promotion to League B for the fifth edition of the Nations League.
But O’Neill is keen for his side to register their third win in a row when they take on Luxembourg in their final group game at the Stade de Luxembourg (7.45 kick-off UK time).
Last month’s 5-0 win over Bulgaria in Belfast and Friday’s 2-0 home success against Belarus have propelled Northern Ireland to the top of the C3 table.
Going into the final set of matches in the group, O’Neill’s side have 10 points from five games and Bulgaria have eight points. Belarus are third on six points, with Luxembourg propping up the table with two.
The Northern Ireland boss said his team will be going out to win the game and “know what they have to do” to get three points on the road for the first time in this campaign.
However, he believes Luxembourg are a better side than they have shown in the fourth edition of the Nations League to date.
He told media yesterday that their position in the group is not a fair reflection of where they are as a team.
"They are a good footballing team and have some good players who are at a good level at good clubs in Europe. This Nations League has been a bit harsh on them results-wise but their performances have been good,” he pointed out.
And he added: "I've known their coach (Luc Holtz) for a long time so I know how he wants his team to play. I think this will be as tough as any of the games that we have had."
Northern Ireland will be without defender Ciaron Brown this evening – he is serving a one-match suspension – but O’Neill insists he has enough defensive cover in his squad, pointing out that there is versatility and adaptability among his players.
A strong showing in their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign saw Luxembourg climb to 84th in the FIFA Coca-Cola World Rankings (July 2024) – two places short of their all-time high back in September 2018 and a far cry from their position of 195th in August 2006.
Luxembourg finished third in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying group containing Portugal, Slovakia, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Liechtenstein.
They progressed to the play-offs by virtue of their previous performances in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League when they were runners-up in Group C1. But Luxembourg’s attempt to make it to a first major tournament finals was halted by Georgia in the play-offs.
Their campaign in C3 this autumn has not gone according to plan though and they have dropped back to 89th in the world rankings. They have managed only two draws so far.
The two lowest-ranked sides that finish fourth in League C will be relegated to League D, while the two best-ranked sides will contest League C/D play-offs.
That means Luxembourg would be guaranteed a C/D play-off if they defeat Northern Ireland. And even a point would be enough to get them a play-off if Lithuania (zero points from five games in C2) lose or draw away to Kosovo tonight and Azerbaijan (propping up C1 with one point from five games) lose or draw against Sweden away tomorrow.
Luxembourg boss Holtz often varies his tactical approach and regularly deviates between starting with three centre backs or adopting a back four. And his team like to play on the front foot, especially at the Stade de Luxembourg.
Captain Laurent Jans, who plays his club football with Leveren in Belgium, is an experienced and calming influence in the Red Lions’ backline. He has won 109 senior international caps since 2012.
At the other end of the pitch the lively Gerson Rodrigues (Guangxi Pingguo Haliao, China) is a constant threat and Luxembourg’s record goalscorer with 22 strikes in 67 appearances, while fellow striker Danel Sinani, who plays for St Pauli in Germany’s Bundesliga, has earned 68 caps, scoring on 13 occasions.
Another player who plies his trade in Germany, Cologne midfielder Mathias Olesen (27 caps, one goal), drives the Red Lions forward along with Spartak Moscow midfielder Christopher Martins (72 caps, one goal).
Training in Luxembourg
