O'Neill keeps his cup focus

MICHAEL O'Neill refused to call tonight's World Cup qualifier at home to Slovakia a must-win game but said his Northern Ireland players were fully aware of the importance of a good result.

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After taking three points from September's away doubleheader with a win in Luxembourg and defeat to Germany in Cologne, Northern Ireland now face back-to-back games at Windsor Park with the Germans due in town on Monday.

These games can make or break their Group A campaign, most obviously Friday's game against a nation Northern Ireland were expected to be fighting for second place but who travel to Belfast top of the group after beating Germany 2-0 in their opening game last month.

"I wouldn't say (it’s must-win) necessarily," O'Neill said. “We have to try and win our home games and this is our first home game, so from that perspective it’s a very, very important game.