Northern Ireland boss hoping to ‘do a Leicester’ in France

Michael O’Neill says Northern Ireland will take inspiration from Leicester City’s unlikely Premier League success when they travel to Euro 2016 in France.

Northern Ireland are set to appear at a major championship finals for the first time in 30 years but they will arrive in France as significant underdogs.

Leicester defied the odds in the English top flight this season and O’Neill says his players must take note and realise that special things can be achieved if everyone buys into the team ethic and pulls in the right direction.

Facing into a group that contains world champions Germany as well as experienced nations in Poland and Ukraine, O’Neill says the Leicester story is one to inspire.

“We can look at what Leicester did and draw inspiration from that,” O’Neill told the Belfast Telegraph. “What Leicester have done this season is incredible.

They have no big superstars and it shows you what can be achieved when everyone buys into the team ethic. We work in a similar way.” Northern Ireland topped their qualifying section for Euro 2016, losing only one of their ten games.

O’Neill and his men are likely to concede the ball to their opponents next month for long spells but the Northern Ireland manager says the Foxes have shown you can succeed on minimal possession if everything else is in place.

“Leicester have found a way of playing that has been hugely successful this season. They aren’t high in the statistics for possession or for the number of passes completed, but they are high in terms of goals scored and have a good defensive record and have only lost three times all season,” he added.

Northern Ireland are 4.75 to win their opening Euro 2016 game against Poland while O’Neill’s team are 501.00 to win the tournament outright.