Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland: ‘Real sense of disappointment’ – Michael O’Neill on Germany loss

O’Neill, while allowing the supervisor to attack Germany for the latter, Wirtz’in perfectly sent a free kick, while questioning, some soft defense lamented.

“We were good in the game for 60 or 65 minutes. The second target was a little freak target, we could defend better. The third target is not a free kick. A great finish, but a soft free kick,” he explained.

“I thought the referee was a little hectic in the second half. The first deserved well.

“We were fine in the game and we had to reach the last 15 minutes and we could have a last chance, but the game got away from us.”

Northern Ireland ranks second in Group A.

O’Neill believes that there is a place they expect to be in this elimination stage with two big home games against Slovakia and Germany.

“It’s hard to play two games from home,” he said. “We got what we hoped for, but we’re a little more disappointed.

“We must be ready to play at home in a row and we know that the two good results will make us a good position.”