Ten Years On From Lyon, O'Neill Keeps Northern Ireland's Eyes on the Future
As Northern Ireland prepare to face Ukraine, manager Michael O'Neill is steering attention away from the tenth anniversary of their famous Euro 2016 win and toward building a young squad's future.
A decade since Lyon
Any meeting between Northern Ireland and Ukraine inevitably stirs memories of Euro 2016, when a hailstorm interrupted play in Lyon, Gareth McAuley headed home a crucial goal, and Niall McGinn celebrated wildly. Ten years have now passed since that landmark day, though this time the sides meet in Trnava, Slovakia, with the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine preventing matches being staged on Ukrainian soil.
Michael O'Neill, who managed the side in Lyon and remains in charge today, accepts why supporters and journalists keep returning to that result, but insists his focus lies elsewhere. Speaking to BBC Sport NI, he said the current group should be allowed to build its own legacy rather than being constantly measured against 2016.
Only two survivors from that Euros squad remain involved: Josh Magennis and Paddy McNair, who at 31 is now among the squad's senior figures. Former captain Steven Davis, once part of that historic campaign, now works alongside O'Neill as a coach. Several current players, including Ceadach O'Neill and Braiden Graham, were just eight years old at the time, while capped regulars such as Trai Hume, Shea Charles, Isaac Price and Brodie Spencer hadn't yet finished school.
Encouraging start in the Nations League
Back in League B of the Nations League, Northern Ireland have made a positive start: Shea Charles scored a stoppage-time winner against Georgia, followed by a goalless draw at home to Hungary, achieved despite visible fatigue from the long trip back from Tbilisi. The side had already shown their defensive solidity by containing Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in their opening match.
O'Neill believes Ukraine, who lack the individual star quality of Georgia or Hungary, remain a formidable collective unit and has tipped them as favourites for the upcoming fixture. The broader ambition remains reaching a first major tournament since 2016, with the next European Championship arriving in 2028.
