O’Neill’s reshuffled 5-4-1 system failed to produce a result against Poland in their opener on Sunday as Arkadiusz Milik’s second-half strike downed Northern Ireland on their first appearance at a finals in three decades.
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There was disappointment too for defender Gareth McAuley, who helped contain Robert Lewandowski only to see Arkadiusz Milik fire home the victor early in the second period.
With Ukraine and Germany next on the fixture list, things aren’t going to get easier anytime soon for O’Neill and his side.
With less burden on the 27-year-old Lewandowski, who scored 42 goals in 50 games for Bayern last season, many pundits and supporters fancy the “Bialo-Czerwoni” (White and Reds) to reach the last 16 at least. “Northern Ireland are known for their physical football so we had to adjust and offer the same in order to demonstrate our skills”.
“We’ll have to play sensibly and recognise that”.
Milik, a forward played for Ajax Amsterdam, held the opportunity to score after collecting Blaszczykowski’s pass from the right.
Steven Davis: The captain led by example, and was close to finishing off a late set-piece manoeuvre.
Speaking after the game in Nice, Davis said, “We always knew it was going to be hard but we were not good enough”.
And they got it with a style – in the 51st minute, a long ball was hoisted down the right, headed away by Evans and then seized upon by Poland.
Impressive teenager Bartosz Kapustka also forced goalkeeper Michael McGovern into an acrobatic save after teeing himself up for a left-footed drive on the edge of the area.
Northern Ireland’s 30-year wait to play in a major worldwide tournament ended in disappointment after it was beaten by Poland on Sunday.
O’Neill attempted to inject some drive in midfield by dispensing of Paddy McNair for Stuart Dallas, but he was soon trying to plot a way back into the game having fallen behind.
It looked like Northern Ireland defended desperately in the opening minutes, putting all their men behind the ball and collapsing into their own box.
The spokesman said the accident happened at around 2am on Monday, after Northern Ireland’s match against Poland, which they lost by 1-0.
Arkadiusz Milik netted the victor for Poland.
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“We knew it was going to be tough and a tough game for the defenders”, said Lafferty. We have the fight, the determination and the heart.
