Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland ought to deal with their five-1 demolition through Sweden as a gaining knowledge of trip, warning matters gets harder still in World Cup qualifying.
Northern Ireland had been blown away in Tuesday’s friendly in Stockholm, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga among the goals.
Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren and Ken Sema were additionally not off course soccer predictions for Sweden, who've scored 5 or more dreams in lower back-to-returned house internationals for the first time given that 1957, having overwhelmed Azerbaijan 6-0 last day out on home soil.
Northern Ireland, meanwhile, conceded extra ambitions in Tuesday’s defeat than they'd throughout their last eight internationals combined (four), in view that a five-1 loss to Spain remaining June.
Speaking after the sport, O’Neill praised his gamers’ program and outlined his view that the remaining scoreline did not absolutely replicate the stability of play.
“We definitely didn’t come right here to have a scoreline like we had this night, yet we knew it might be a robust sport,” acknowledged O’Neill.
“In all honesty, the perspective of the workforce turned into super. They not ever stopped looking to play. It changed into a challenging night time however that’s why we took a video game like this.
“I consider five-1 is might be slightly harsh on us yet at the end of the day we did supply them opportunities, and at this degree they'll punish you.
“But we’re asking a lot of young players who aren’t playing each week for his or her golf equipment. They should not exposed to this degree and this quality of player.”
Sweden in simple terms just outshot Northern Ireland, having 16 attempts and facing 14, however their possibilities had a total fee of three.02 envisioned aims (xG) to Northern Ireland’s 1.06.
The next world damage sees Northern Ireland face yet another pleasant towards Scandinavian competition in Iceland, in advance of World Cup qualifiers in opposition t Luxembourg and Germany in September.
“You forever be informed in overseas football. Our crew is made from avid gamers who play within the Championship and League One,” O’Neill continued.
“They were gambling in opposition to avid gamers who play at the precise point inside the appropriate leagues.
“That’s the difference. The physicality and the rate turned into a limitation for us but it’s one we’re going to ought to handle.
“There’s yet another degree above this – we should move and play Germany – so we recognize what’s in save however we will purely get higher if we divulge ourselves to this level of competition.”