Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley believes Northern Eire now have the expertise and high quality to check Slovakia and Germany of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Northern Eire opened their qualification marketing campaign with a 3-1 win at Luxembourg final month, earlier than producing a spirited efficiency in a 3-1 loss to Germany in Koln.
Serge Gnabry put Germany forward, however Isaac Value acquired Northern Eire on degree phrases earlier than second-half strikes from Nadiem Amiri and Florian Wirtz fired Julian Nagelsmann’s facet to victory.
Northern Eire method Friday’s sport towards Slovakia at Windsor Park second in Group A, three factors behind their opponents and forward of Germany on targets scored.
Michael O’Neill’s crew then face Germany three days later, rounding off a double-header that would make or break their qualifying marketing campaign.
Northern Eire have received every of their final 4 aggressive residence video games by an mixture rating of 11-0.
They final received 5 straight residence matches in September 2017 however have by no means beforehand completed so to nil.
And Bradley believes they’ve by no means beforehand had a greater alternative to check the world’s high groups.
“Windsor Park will in all probability be at its greatest over the 2 video games so now we have to handle the expectations of that,” Bradley stated on Thursday.
“I’ve numerous religion within the crew. Now we have a extremely good group of gamers.
“We really feel extra ready than we did for the final Euros marketing campaign. We’ve a bit extra expertise now and hopefully that can assist us.”
Our senior males have arrived on the @ClearerTwist Nationwide Stadium at Windsor Park for MD-1 coaching #GAWA pic.twitter.com/qXzoUkimF2
— Northern Eire (@NorthernIreland) October 9, 2025
Slovakia adopted up their win over Germany by edging out Luxembourg 1-0, they usually might now win their first three matches in a World Cup qualification marketing campaign for less than the second time, after 1998.
“I used to be stunned they beat Germany, I feel everybody was,” Bradley stated of Slovakia. “Germany are a high crew and never many sides have overwhelmed them in the previous couple of years.
“Slovakia are an excellent crew with good gamers, however now we have some good gamers too, so we’re wanting ahead to it.”
Northern Eire final received two of their first three video games in a qualifying marketing campaign in 1984, forward of the 1986 World Cup – the final version of the match they certified for.