Regardless of taking an early lead, Northern Eire didn’t register a shot on the right track all through the sport.

O’Neill added: “When it comes to the place we have to get to as a workforce, we want to have the ability to retain the ball somewhat bit higher once we win it again, perhaps discover somewhat bit extra when it comes to our stage of possession as properly and that can assist us carry an even bigger risk.”

Understanding they’ll face Germany in World Cup qualifying in September, O’Neill has consciously taken friendlies in opposition to a better stage of opposition than his facet confronted when incomes promotion from the third tier of the Nations League.

Saturday’s reverse was simply their fourth up to now 14 video games, a run that began with a 2-0 win over Denmark in Belfast in November 2023.

In losses to Spain 12 months in the past and in opposition to Sweden in March, Northern Eire shipped 5 objectives however, regardless of their largely stout defending representing an indication of progress in Copenhagen, the sport in opposition to Iceland will pose a distinct problem.

The guests, nonetheless, arrive in Belfast buoyed by a victory over Scotland on Friday evening.

“We have to be higher with the ball. So how we set ourselves out as a workforce might be barely totally different,” O’Neill stated.

“The groups are extra of an analogous stage, let’s be trustworthy, in order that in itself will assist us, though that they had an excellent outcome in opposition to Scotland at Hampden Park and performed very properly.

“So will probably be a tricky take a look at, nevertheless it’s only a totally different recreation for us. It is a recreation the place we’ll count on to have extra of the ball and the duty and the onus is on us to clearly take the initiative within the recreation.”