Regardless of the loss, and his frustration, O’Neill nonetheless had time for a joke with a member of the German media.
“Having seemed on the stats, satirically Germany performed extra lengthy balls than us within the recreation,” he mentioned.
For his half, Julian Nagelsmann, whose feedback after the reverse fixture in Cologne prompted O’Neill’s quip, was relieved to get by means of a “powerful” recreation.
“The second half was all about defending,” Nagelsmann advised BBC Sport.
“As I mentioned earlier than the sport it was a very powerful opponent, lots of lengthy balls and so they combat and we needed to combat as properly.
“It was step in the suitable course to beat a crew like Northern Eire and to combat for second balls and be as powerful because the opponent.”
Prime spot in Group A is now a protracted shot given Germany have put their grasp on automated qualification.
However second place and a assured play-off continues to be on the playing cards forward of November’s two qualifiers in Slovakia and residential to backside facet Luxembourg.
It will not be a lot comfort now, however a play-off as certainly one of 4 Nations League group winners appears to be a safer fall again given different outcomes throughout Europe, if Northern Eire have been to overlook out on the highest two.
So, after battling however falling brief in opposition to certainly one of Europe’s giants, this younger Northern Eire facet could also be down, however they’re undoubtedly not out.
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