Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland need to deal with their five-1 demolition by Sweden as a discovering adventure, caution matters gets more difficult nevertheless in World Cup qualifying.
Northern Ireland were blown away in Tuesday’s pleasant in Stockholm, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga a few of the objectives.
Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren and Ken Sema had been also on course for Sweden, who've scored 5 or extra pursuits in lower back-to-back home internationals for the primary time considering 1957, having crushed Azerbaijan 6-0 closing outing on dwelling house soil.
Northern Ireland, in the meantime, conceded greater objectives in Tuesday’s defeat than they had across their ultimate eight internationals mixed (4), on the grounds that a 5-1 loss to Spain final June.
Speaking after the game, O’Neill praised his avid gamers’ utility and defined his view that the very last scoreline did now not honestly replicate the stability of play.
“We manifestly didn’t come the following to have a scoreline like we had this night, but we knew it'd be a complicated sport,” pointed out O’Neill.
“In all honesty, the approach of the workforce became nice. They never stopped attempting to play. It used to be a demanding night time but that’s why we took a online game like this.
“I believe five-1 is perhaps a bit harsh on us yet on the end of the day we did deliver them chances, and at this stage they will punish you.
“But we’re asking a lot of younger players who aren’t taking part in each week for his or her clubs. They are not exposed to this point and this exceptional of participant.”
Sweden in basic terms simply outshot Northern Ireland, having sixteen tries and going through 14, notwithstanding their options had a total significance of three.02 predicted dreams (xG) to Northern Ireland’s 1.06.
The next overseas smash sees Northern Ireland face an additional friendly opposed to Scandinavian competition in Iceland, ahead of World Cup qualifiers in opposition t Luxembourg and Germany in September.
“You always be told in global football. Our group is made of avid gamers who play within the Championship and League One,” O’Neill persisted.
“They were taking part in towards gamers who play at the higher fixed matches today level in the desirable leagues.
“That’s the difference. The physicality and the velocity become a limitation for us but it’s one we’re going to ought to do something about.
“There’s a further level above this – we have to move and play Germany – so we know what’s in store however we will be able to best get larger if we reveal ourselves to this level of competition.”