MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 22:07:12| >> :600:1753530:1753530:
[monks data]
Attendance: 18,188
Northern Ireland national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Mar 24, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Belarus national football team

2-1

Evans (30'), Magennis (87')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Stasevich (33')

Josh Magennis: Northern Ireland "truly believe" in Euro 2020 qualification

To do that, they will have to finish above Germany or Holland.

Josh Magennis insisted Northern Ireland can pip either Holland or Germany to qualification for Euro 2020 after his late winner put them top of Group C on Sunday night.

Magennis struck with three minutes left to snatch a 2-1 win over Belarus at Windsor Park and make it six points out of six for Michael O'Neill's side.

The goal was arguably the best move of the game, with Magennis instrumental as he controlled Craig Cathcart's long ball and laid it off to Stuart Dallas before sweeping home Paddy McNair's cross.

Magennis applauds the fans as he leaves the field
Magennis applauds the fans as he leaves the field (Brian Lawless/PA)

"It was brilliant and the place erupted as usual," Magennis said. "With the magnitude of the game it had been frustrating. They were sitting in deep and making it hard for us to create chances.

"Thankfully Paddy laid it on a plate for me and I thought, 'Don't miss' and thank God it managed to go in past the keeper."

With the next games not until June, when they face Estonia and Belarus away, Northern Ireland can enjoy a three-point cushion over the Dutch, who have won one and lost one, and Germany, who beat Holland 3-2 in their only qualifier so far.

"It's a cliche and cheesy but the main thing was the three points and we want 12 points out of the first four games and then we can head towards September, October and November," he added. "We have started off well and now we have to look forward to June."

When the draw paired Northern Ireland with Holland and Germany few gave them a chance of securing a top-two finish, but Magennis said there is plenty of belief within the group.

The fixture list means they will not face either the Dutch or Germans until their last four games in the autumn, by which time they hope to have plenty of points in the bag.

"It massive and we want to stay there and we truly believe we can do it," he said. "There is no point me standing here if I didn't think we could go through. I might as well not show up.

"It's going to be tough and maybe tougher than we expected and maybe we will have to dig deep. I also say, 'Why not us?' The boys know each other inside out and we just have to play to the best of our ability."

O'Neill has changed Northern Ireland's approach over the past six months, looking to play a more possession-based style rather than relying on counter-attacks, and it is a change Magennis is enjoying.

"I think what Michael's trying to do, the ethos he is trying to progress in the team and what we are trying to achieve and do before the games is coming to fruition," he said.

"We are trying to develop and we are no longer a one-dimensional team as people said before.

"We are trying to break teams down and at times it is not pretty but we have come off the pitch knowing we have won."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Ian Parker, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'fd10c8f9-8d07-404e-84f2-a9b66ef7b3ed');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Josh Magennis is confident Northern Ireland can qualify for Euro 2020'});

ID:354330: cacheID:354330:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7995:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Corry Evans scores for Northern Ireland on November 18, 2018
Read Next:
Northern Ireland midfielder Corry Evans doubtful for Estonia and Belarus clashes
>
Read more about Josh Magennis Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!