Sanchez urges team to become legends
Lawrie Sanchez is calling on his Northern Ireland team to smash a 78-year hoodoo and become heroes for all time.
Windsor Park will be jammed to its 14,000 capacity tomorrow when England are the visitors in a World Cup qualifier.
The province have a score to settle. The last time they defeated their rivals in Belfast was in 1927 – a 2-0 victory causing jubilation among the home supporters.
Not for the first time Northern Ireland are the underdogs but there is a wave of euphoria surrounding the side following the defeat of Azerbaijan – their first competitive victory in four years.
Sanchez would love nothing better than back-to-back wins and believes his team have the mentality to ruffle a few feathers.
“The players have the opportunity to become part of football folklore,” said the Northern Ireland manager. “That’s what will happen if we beat England.
“My team will have to be committed – and I am sure that will be the case. If we play to our strengths we can cause them problems.
“As a manager you have paternal pride – you want your players to achieve success. It is my job to point out to them how that can be done.
“I accept that England are better man for man than us but perhaps my players can achieve more than what they thought is possible.
“That certainly happened to me as a player thanks to certain managers I worked under.”
Sanchez is keeping his team under wraps but he looks likely to stick with the side that defeated Azerbaijan preferring 4-4-2 with fit-again David Healy set to partner James Quinn up front.
Quinn, now playing his trade at Peterborough, is one of old school, who enjoys an aerial battle.
However, getting the better of England goalkeeper Paul Robinson could be difficult, according to Maik Taylor.
Northern Ireland’s number one admires the way his 25-year-old Tottenham rival has come on since leaving Leeds.
“Paul is still a young goalkeeper and he had a lot of years ahead of him, “ said Taylor.
“He has a fantastic temperament and has taken the England role in his stride.
“He looks very confident and I have been very impressed with the job he is doing.”
N Ireland (probable): Taylor (Birmingham), Baird (Southampton), Hughes (Aston Villa), Craigan (Motherwell), Capaldi (Plymouth), Gillespie (Sheff Utd), Johnson (Birmingham), Davis (Aston Villa), Elliott (Hull), Healy (Leeds), Quinn (Peterborough).
