Ukraine vs Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill hits back at Group C rivals over style jibe

Plenty to ponder: Michael O'Neill
(Handout/UEFA via Getty Images)
Giuseppe Muro16 June 2016

Michael O’Neill has hit back at suggestions from Ukraine that Northern Ireland are long-ball merchants ahead of their crunch match but admits his side will have to play “ugly” if they are to keep alive their hopes.

The Irish, beaten by Poland in their opening game, know defeat in Lyon tonight is likely to end their chances of reaching the knockout stages with Germany to face in their last group fixture. Ukraine midfielder Ruslan Rotan said this week he expects Northern Ireland to play “purely a British style” and rely on their physical threat.

But O’Neill has dismissed that idea and argued Ukraine set up in a similar way to his side.

“It is interesting that that was the statement that was made,” said O’Neill. “Ukraine’s possession was not particularly high [in their defeat] against Germany, they also played a lot of long balls, which is very British.

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“One thing we have noticed about Ukraine is they are a physical team. If you look at the yellow and red cards that they have had, I do not think they are playing a Spanish style of football.

“What we did not do against Poland was the ugly part of the game and that is something we generally always do well. When I say ‘ugly’ I mean in terms of the competitiveness. We will have to be at our very best, better in a lot of aspects than in game one.”

O’Neill is set to make changes to the team beaten by Poaland.

Conor Washington or Jamie Ward could be recalled to support Kyle Lafferty, who played as a lone striker against Poland. Stuart Dallas may also start.

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