Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill was extremely pleased with Kyle Lafferty after the striker scored his third goal in three games in the 2-0 win over Greece on Tuesday. Lafferty scored the second goal of the match against Greece and has also bagged goals against Hungary and the Faroe Islands.
"He has all the attributes you need in a good centre forward," said O'Neill according to BBC Sport . "Kyle has been fantastic in the three games. He's facing international defenders who just can't handle him. He has ability, technique, pace and size."
Northern Ireland are now at the top of Group F by two points from Romania, their next opponents in Bucharest on 14 November. "It's nice to have that record but the main thing is the performance and the three points," said O'Neill. "There wasn't a player we couldn't give plaudits to, every one of them was magnificent. I'm delighted with how we played - our work-rate, our belief and the fact that we were difficult to break down while being dangerous from set-pieces and on the break."
At the moment Romania are the favourites to win Group F according to Bet365, they are 8/13 to finish top of the group while Northern Ireland are 9/2 to keep the top spot at the end of the campaign.
galata86 9 years ago
this is easy group and for me it won't be souprise if northen ireland finish in top 3. We have here Greek, Romania, Hungary, Faroe Island and Finland. For me any of this country will be outsider at any other group. So in this maybe the worst group in qualification everyone have chanses and if you start with three wins for...
this is easy group and for me it won't be souprise if northen ireland finish in top 3. We have here Greek, Romania, Hungary, Faroe Island and Finland. For me any of this country will be outsider at any other group. So in this maybe the worst group in qualification everyone have chanses and if you start with three wins for me that is maybe enough at least for third place
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aleksandar vlaisavljevic 9 years ago
what happened? good vision of O'Neill, good game of Lafferty..but Romania is not favorite of group for no reason. This is the least atractive group in qualifications, cause dont like the football played by Finland or Hungary. So, North Ireland and Romania, sure pair for first places. Greece - not immpresed by their game
what happened? good vision of O'Neill, good game of Lafferty..but Romania is not favorite of group for no reason. This is the least atractive group in qualifications, cause dont like the football played by Finland or Hungary. So, North Ireland and Romania, sure pair for first places. Greece - not immpresed by their game
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Snoop 9 years ago
Greece is not so strong, but still this is bic suprise, Northen Ireland is team without some special players, I can not even say that they have solid team... I expected maybe 3-4 points, but 9 points after 3 matches, that is really god job, they were hoping to have that much points on the end of this qualifications :D Good...
Greece is not so strong, but still this is bic suprise, Northen Ireland is team without some special players, I can not even say that they have solid team... I expected maybe 3-4 points, but 9 points after 3 matches, that is really god job, they were hoping to have that much points on the end of this qualifications :D Good for them, I can only wish them luck, but I think that they will not continue with good results, they don't have enough quality...
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mdacic 9 years ago
For me this is big big suprise. That Northen Ireland have 9 points after 3 matches?! Come on people... I remmember last qualification for world cup where they played draw with Luxemburg and teams like that and now they have all wins at first three matches. I don't know what happend with them but well done :)
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madzgos 9 years ago
This is not sensation for me, Greece's form is very poor. On this match I bet under 3 goals, and I won... I expected from Kyle much better career then he has. In Rangers, he played very good, he was a strong forward and good in-box player. I hope that in Norwich he regain good form.
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