Five key talking points from the weekend’s international action

What next for Michael O’Neill?

Michael O’Neill looked a beaten man on the St. Jakob-Park pitch yesterday evening. His Northern Ireland side gave it their all against the Swiss but were ultimately undone by a single refereeing decision in the first-leg at Windsor Park.

His demeanour hinted that he felt as though he’d taken this Northern Ireland side as far as it can go. And that could mean a new challenge for the Portadown native.

Scotland are known to covet the 48-year-old. So too the United States. A move to the Premier League cannot be ruled out either. O’Neill may have two years left to run on his contract with the Northern Irish FA, but could an offer from elsewhere tempt him away? Only time will tell.

Changing of the guard in Africa

Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon have all been staple ingredients of recent World Cup tournaments. But in Russia next year, none of that trio will be present.

Instead, representing Africa will be Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal and Egypt. While Nigeria will be featuring in their sixth tournament, the rest of that quintet will be making an appearance at football’s showpiece event for the first time in a number of years.

Tunisia and Senegal haven’t qualified since 2006 and 2002 respectively. Meanwhile, Morocco and Egypt have to go back to 1998 and 1990 since their last World Cup participation. It represents a changing of the guard in Africa and some exciting new names at next year’s showpiece event.

New Zealand-Peru and Australia-Honduras finely poised

Play-off games for World Cup qualification are usually tight. And so it proved over the weekend, with New Zealand v Peru and Honduras v Australia both ending 0-0.

It means the second-leg of both matches should prove to be tight and tense affairs. Peru and Australia will have home advantage going into the return-leg of either tie. And that could be crucial as the pair aim to reach next summer’s tournament.

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