The draw for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign took place on 7th February and has left Northern Ireland facing a mammoth battle for qualification. The north face current World Cup champions Italy, Serbia and Slovenia, Estonia and the Faroe Islands. Nigel Worthington commented, “I would rather play the bigger nations because from a player’s point of view to get up for those games is not so much of a problem.”
His optimism, however, is questionable considering Northern Ireland’s recent run of bad form.
BY JULIE MCCULLAGH