O'Neill Puts Brave Face on World Cup Dream Crusher
Northern Ireland's World Cup hopes met a predictably brutal end in Bergamo as Italy dispatched them 2-0, but Michael O'Neill somehow finds reason for cheer in the wreckage.
Well, that went about as well as ordering fish and chips in Rome. Northern Ireland's World Cup dream came to a thoroughly expected, if no less painful, conclusion in Bergamo last night as Italy served up a regulation 2-0 defeat that sent Michael O'Neill's side packing from the play-off semi-finals.
The Azzurri, apparently still smarting from their spectacular failure to qualify directly for the tournament, took their frustrations out on the visitors with the kind of clinical efficiency that makes you wonder how they managed to balls things up in the group stage in the first place. Two goals were enough to do the job, though one suspects they could have added a few more had they felt particularly vindictive.
For Northern Ireland, this represented the end of what had been a decent run to reach the play-offs, though anyone who genuinely believed they were going to waltz past Italy in their own backyard probably also believes in the tooth fairy and Manchester United's title chances.
The defeat in Bergamo means O'Neill's men can now enjoy an extended summer break while watching the World Cup from their sofas like the rest of us mere mortals. It's a familiar position for Northern Ireland, who have made watching major tournaments from home something of an art form over the years.
What's remarkable, though, is O'Neill's determination to find silver linings in what was essentially a comprehensive dismantling. The Northern Ireland boss emerged from the wreckage spouting optimism about his team's future prospects, which is either admirable resilience or the kind of delusion that keeps football managers sane.
Credit where it's due – getting to a World Cup play-off semi-final is no mean feat for a nation of Northern Ireland's size and resources. But when you're staring down the barrel of Italy's finest in their own backyard, optimism can only take you so far. Physics tends to take over at that point.
The loss brings down the curtain on another World Cup cycle for Northern Ireland, leaving them to contemplate what might have been while Italy march on to face whoever has the misfortune of meeting them in the next round. Still, at least O'Neill's glass-half-full approach means the post-match interviews won't be completely miserable.
For now, Northern Ireland can console themselves with the knowledge that they gave it a go, even if 'giving it a go' against Italy tends to end with the same predictability as a soap opera Christmas special.