Isaac Price reflected on Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off exit to Italyplaceholder image
Isaac Price reflected on Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off exit to Italy
Isaac Price held his hands up after a key error in Northern Ireland’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying play-off loss to Italy but the West Brom forward has backed the team to turn things around come their Euro 2028 campaign.
Northern Ireland successfully frustrated an increasingly nervous Italy side throughout a goalless first half, but came under pressure early in the second and had players out of position when Sandro Tonali fired the hosts in front in the 56th minute.
Price had tried to clear a high cross into the box, but managed only to head it into the path of the Newcastle midfielder who punished him with an excellent first-time finish, and Moise Kean finished the job with 10 minutes to go.
“Obviously it’s really disappointing,” Price said. “I felt like we probably had enough to go and compete in the game. We held them for 50-55 minutes but a mistake by me really cost us a goal and then from there I think it was pretty comfortable but I don’t think we ever give in.
“I think we showed a lot of spirit and togetherness. We’re obviously missing a few key players but overall I thought we put in a good shift.”
Kean had gone close moments before Tonali’s shot, but otherwise Northern Ireland had done well to limit Italy to half chances before the goal.
“That was our game plan really,” Price said. “Try and frustrate them, get their crowd on the back. I thought we did that pretty well. They obviously had a few set-pieces but I didn’t think they had any major chances. And then the goal killed us really in the second half.”
Michael O’Neill had fielded a side with the second youngest average age of any Northern Ireland team in the post-war era – just 22.5 – and has repeatedly said this squad is ahead of schedule in its development.
While they fell short this time, there is plenty of reason to believe they can challenge for a place at Euro 2028.
“We are obviously really disappointed and it’s a bitter pill to swallow,” Price added. “It’ll hurt for a long while because I think we really believe that we had a good opportunity to go and win this game but I think it’s just building on it now with performances and playing together more regularly…
“I think we’ve all got the belief. We’ve all got the eagerness and that’s why it’s going to hurt so much at the moment. We all believed that we could do it early and surprise a few people, but obviously it wasn’t meant to be.
“But I think there’s definitely a belief that we can get to a definite major finals in the future. If we didn’t, I think it’d be really disappointing.
“I think the fans have got something to look forward to. I just want to say that the fans were unbelievable but they always are when they travel away. Hopefully we can bring on good memories in the future.”