Youth the key for Northern Ireland

As far as Northern Ireland is concerned, qualification for EURO 2004™ in Portugal would be the triumph of hope over expectation.

Hope rather than expectation 
That is not to write off the chances of Sammy McIlroy's men. The truth is that Northern Ireland supporters, players, and even management, now hope to reach the finals of major tournaments rather than expect to achieve such targets.

Reality accepted 
Yet such attitudes are the result of an acceptance of reality, rather than stemming from pessimism. Indeed, hopes now are higher than they have been for several years.

McIlroy trusts youth 
Much of that is to do with a change of management, with the popular ex-international player Sammy McIlroy now in charge. Linked to that, is the young talent that McIlroy has brought through into the senior side. Of course, hopes were even higher in 1998 only to crash back down to earth in painful fashion.

Dream team
In early January 1998 the Irish Football Association ended their search for a managerial successor to Bryan Hamilton by appointing their 'dream team': former Southampton FC manager Lawrie McMenemy in the top job, ex-Scottish international Joe Jordan as coach, and Northern Ireland legend Pat Jennings as goalkeeping coach.

Businesslike attitude 
McMenemy, assistant manager when Graham Taylor was England boss, was expected to bring international experience and a more professional approach. Certainly his attitude was much more businesslike with the media and more strict with the players than had been the case under the easy-going and affable Hamilton.

Worse to come 
Yet the results did not improve. Indeed they got worse. Hamilton was sacked for failing to come close to qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, with Northern Ireland slumping to 75th in the FIFA rankings. After McMenemy's reign, the situation had deteriorated. Northern Ireland were drawn in qualifying Group Three for EURO 2000™, alongside Germany, Turkey, Finland, and Moldova.

Bad start 
The group began badly with a 3-0 beating by Turkey in Istanbul, but then came a 1-0 victory over Finland in Belfast in October 1998, Northern Ireland's first competitive win for almost two years. However, Northern Ireland were then held 2-2 at home by ten-man Moldova and again managed only a goalless draw away to the unheralded eastern Europeans at the end of March 1999.

Campaign ended
Those results sandwiched a 3-0 home defeat by Germany; no disgrace in that except Northern Ireland had prided themselves on their performances against bigger teams, especially the Germans. With qualification beyond them, Northern Ireland capitulated. In the space of four days in September 1999, they lost 3-0 at home to Turkey and 4-0 away to Germany. The group campaign ended with a 4-1 defeat by Finland in Helsinki.

McMenemy leaves
Northern Ireland had taken just five points from eight games, only one point more than Moldova. Amazingly, the IFA offered McMenemy and company an extended contract but then differences over the terms allowed both parties to announce a parting of the ways. McIlroy was handed the management job in January 2000, and began with two away victories, admittedly in friendlies against the lowly opposition of Luxembourg and Malta.

Homecoming ends in defeat
His homecoming to Windsor Park ended in defeat, 1-0 by Hungary, with another home friendly loss following against Yugoslavia. However, the competitive action commenced with a win, although the 1-0 home victory over Malta in September 2000 was hard-fought.

Losing streak
That was the opening match in qualifying Group Three for World Cup 2002, Northern Ireland's other opponents comprising Denmark, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Iceland. The optimism continued when the Danes were held 1-1 in Belfast in October 2000 but after that Northern Ireland went winless for a year, indeed embarking on a six-match losing streak.

Home humiliation 
McIlroy's first competitive loss was cruel, although deserved, a last-gasp 1-0 defeat by Iceland in Reykjavik, days after the draw with Denmark. The year 2001 brought no change of fortune, starting with a home humiliation in a friendly, 4-0 by Norway. Back in World Cup qualification action the performance was much-improved against the Czechs, but the visitors still won 1-0 at Windsor Park; days later Bulgaria cruised to a 4-3 win in Sofia, Northern Ireland flattered by two late goals.

Turning point
The Bulgarians won again, 1-0 at Windsor Park, as did the Czechs 3-1 in Teplice, although the highly-rated hosts needed two goals in added time for that scoreline. The performance that day in Teplice by a team missing ten players through injury and suspension did mark a turning point, though.

Battled back
Northern Ireland went to Copenhagen in September and battled back for a 1-1 draw with Denmark, the eventual group winners. Revenge was gained superbly against Iceland at Windsor Park four days later, the visitors crushed 3-0, and Northern Ireland even managed consecutive wins by beating Malta 1-0 in Valletta to end the group on a winning note.

Major difference 
The cold facts appear to show little improvement: another qualifying Group Three, another fourth place finish out of five teams, another `failure', this time not reaching the World Cup at Korea/Japan - but there is a major difference in mood now.

Players coming through 
McIlroy has his players performing with pride in the jersey again, and young players are coming through. One good decision was made the night Bryan Hamilton was sacked in October 1997, the IFA agreeing to set up an Under-21 team. Results at that level have not been great either, but more young players are emerging to offer hope for the future.