O'NEILL MEN

Michael takes positives after falling just short

- by DARREN WELLS

MICHAEL O’NEILL was left wondering what might have been after watching his Northern Ireland side fall to a 3-1 defeat against Germany.

Pride in a strong performance from a young squad was tinged with disappointment because, but for a couple of defensive mistakes, they might have got even more from the game after Isaac Price's superb volley cancelled out Serge Gnabry’s early strike in Cologne.

Northern Ireland finished the first half as the stronger of the two teams as whistles rained down on the Germany players from frustrated home fans at the break.