Hype and hope in Belfast as North set for biggest game in 30 years

A Romanian reporter, perhaps lacking in some local knowledge, asked Michael O’Neill yesterday at Windsor Park if Northern Ireland would embark on a “guerrilla war” to overcome Romania tonight.

O’Neill’s eyebrows rose. “I wouldn’t go as far as that,” the Northern Ireland manager said.

The warfare theme was set by the fact that their manager, 65 year-old Anghel Iordanescu, is known as “The General”. O’Neill was asked if he also had a nickname. He replied in the negative, but with a smile.

Good mood

The mood was good at a scarcely recognisable Windsor Park. The sun shone and the old Kop is gone, demolished and awaiting redevelopment.

The new green, white and blue seats at the old Railway End added colour as O’Neill’s squad ran through some setpiece routines. Chris Brunt’s deliveries have become a potent weapon.

With the match being dubbed the biggest in 30 years – Northern Ireland's last finals appearance was at the 1986 World Cup – O'Neill has had to temper encouraging expectation by restraining it.

Qualify

A home win would take the Irish to the top of the group with 15 points. O’Neill thinks 18 points will be enough to qualify automatically for France next summer.

There was a blow yesterday afternoon when goalkeeper Roy Carroll was ruled out with a stomach bug.

Hamilton’s Michael McGovern will step in.

O’Neill spoke before that news and had hoped Carroll would be fit.

“It’s nice that everyone’s talking about it and the hype that’s around it,” he said.

“I’ve said all along we wanted to create expectations. When I came in, I said to the players that it’s not just about picking up caps, you want to create memories. A number of players in the squad had memories of big nights, but they didn’t have memories of going close to qualification. That’s what we wanted to change.

“But, again, we’re not sitting here thinking it’s a formality. It’s taken us three years to get into this position. Don’t underestimate the work that’s gone in.”

Part of that weekly work has seen O'Neill travel to games far beyond the Premier League in England. But tonight he may be able to name a starting XI with as many as five from Premier League clubs, even if three of them – Jonny Evans, Gareth McAuley and Chris Baird – have doubts about their club futures.

Caution

O’Neill said his team was going for the win, but they “wont’ play without caution, that would be foolhardy”.

As Romania are unbeaten, ranked 12th in the world and beat the Irish 2-0 in Bucharest, that is understandable.

But there is a limit to O’Neill’s caution. “I see an edge to the players. They’re ready. I can see that,” he said.