Michael O'Neill Aims to Lead Northern Ireland to World Cup Glory
Michael O'Neill is striving to guide Northern Ireland to their first World Cup appearance since 1986.
O'Neill has expressed that qualifying for the World Cup would rank "as good as anything that any Northern Ireland team has done."
Northern Ireland will face Italy in a play-off semi-final on 26 March, entering the match as clear underdogs against Genaro Gattuso's squad.
If Northern Ireland manage to overcome the four-time World Cup champions—who have missed the last two tournaments—they will advance to a play-off final against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The ultimate reward is a spot in Group B at the World Cup, competing alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar.
Securing a place in the World Cup after a 40-year absence would be a remarkable achievement for Northern Ireland, a fact that O'Neill fully acknowledges.
"If this team can achieve this, it would be as good as anything that any Northern Ireland team has done, to go through two away games and get to a World Cup," he told NI.
"It's a huge challenge, but we have the opportunity to write our names into the history of football here in Northern Ireland.
"We intend to do everything possible to try and take it."
Squad Updates: Ballard Included Despite Injury Doubts
O'Neill confirmed that Liverpool defender Conor Bradley will miss the match due to a knee injury sustained in the Premier League against Arsenal in January.
Sunderland defender Dan Ballard is also a doubt following a hamstring injury in the recent defeat by Brighton but has been named in the 28-man squad.
When asked about the challenges posed by the Italian hosts in Bergamo, O'Neill stated:
"Well, they're Italy, aren't they?"
"It's going to be a very, very tough game. There's no doubt about that," he added during his press conference.
"We're going to have to step up. If you look at our squad, there's 13 players in the Championship, there's four at Premier League clubs and the rest are League One or playing their football elsewhere.
"It is a big step up for us, but it's a step up we've made in the past.
"I think we made it in the Germany game [a gutsy 3-1 defeat in September], albeit we didn't get the results that we felt we maybe could have done. We have to try and make that step up again."
O'Neill Balances Dual Roles Amid World Cup Push
Four weeks ago, O'Neill announced he would combine his role as Northern Ireland manager with managing Blackburn Rovers in their bid to avoid relegation.
He emphasized his ability to manage both positions, noting that daily involvement in a club environment helps maintain his coaching sharpness and that much of the preparation for Italy was completed before taking on the Blackburn role.
Critics have suggested that juggling both jobs could distract from Northern Ireland's crucial upcoming match.
O'Neill clarified that his commitment to Northern Ireland remains firm, with two years left on his contract with the Irish FA.
"For me not to be Northern Ireland [manager for September's Nations League games], there would have to be an agreement between Blackburn and the IFA.
"I would have to want to have to do that and, at this minute in time, my focus is on the World Cup play-off and the remaining games for Blackburn Rovers."
Michael O'Neill's Blackburn Rovers are three points outside of the relegation zone with eight games to play.
O'Neill has secured three wins and one draw in seven matches as Blackburn manager. The team currently sits three points above the Championship relegation zone with eight matches remaining.
Only four points separate Blackburn in 19th place from Leicester City in 23rd, highlighting the tight competition as five teams battle to avoid the two remaining relegation spots.
"My objective is to go in and try and take Blackburn to a safer position in the Championship," he told .
"We've managed to do that so far, but it's very, very tight at that end."
When questioned about preparations should Northern Ireland qualify for the World Cup and his final game with Blackburn being on 2 May, O'Neill stressed his focus remains on the immediate challenges.
He assured Northern Ireland supporters that preparations for the play-offs will be as thorough as ever.
"If we can get through the two games and we're going to the World Cup then, trust me, we will be ready to go to the World Cup," he said.
"Let's deal with what's at hand, which is definitely important.
"I'll talk about the reality, which is we come into a World Cup play-off, as tough as we could have got, and we've got to do everything to try and win that game."
Ballard included in NI squad as Morrison called up
Who is 'leader' Morrison - the uncapped winger in NI squad?
One manager, two jobs - how will O'Neill's situation work?
