Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland have to treat their 5-1 demolition by using Sweden as a getting to know trip, caution issues will get harder still in World Cup qualifying.
Northern Ireland have been blown away in Tuesday’s pleasant in Stockholm, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga the various objectives.
Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren and Ken Sema have been additionally on course for Sweden, who've scored five or more targets in back-to-again dwelling internationals for the first time because 1957, having crushed fixed games Azerbaijan 6-zero last day trip on dwelling house soil.
Northern Ireland, in the meantime, conceded greater objectives in Tuesday’s defeat than that they had throughout their ultimate eight internationals combined (4), on account that a 5-1 loss to Spain closing June.
Speaking after the sport, O’Neill praised his gamers’ utility and mentioned his view that the remaining scoreline did no longer somewhat mirror the stability of play.
“We obviously didn’t come here to have a scoreline like we had this night, yet we knew it would be a tricky sport,” referred to O’Neill.
“In all honesty, the mind-set of the team became appropriate. They not at all stopped trying to play. It was once a hard nighttime yet that’s why we took a recreation like this.
“I feel 5-1 is perhaps a touch harsh on us however at the cease of the day we did supply them alternatives, and at this point they are going to punish you.
“But we’re asking lots of younger avid gamers who aren’t gambling each week for his or her golf equipment. They will not be exposed to this stage and this first-class of player.”
Sweden purely just outshot Northern Ireland, having sixteen makes an attempt and dealing with 14, although their options had a total price of 3.02 predicted targets (xG) to Northern Ireland’s 1.06.
The next international destroy sees Northern Ireland face an extra pleasant in opposition to Scandinavian competition in Iceland, beforehand of World Cup qualifiers in opposition t Luxembourg and Germany in September.
“You all the time be told in world soccer. Our staff is made from players who play in the Championship and League One,” O’Neill persisted.
“They had been enjoying in opposition to avid gamers who play at the leading point within the height leagues.
“That’s the change. The physicality and the rate changed into a hindrance for us but it’s one we’re going to have to manage.
“There’s a different level above this – we have to pass and play Germany – so we be aware of what’s in save but we are able to simplest get greater if we disclose ourselves to this level of competition.”