In what is Northern Ireland's biggest game for 30 years, Michael O'Neill is confident his men can get the job done against an in-form Wales side.

It will be a 34 years to the day since Gerry Armstrong scored that infamous goal against Spain in the 1982 World Cup, and O'Neill will be looking for a similar performance.

Both sides entire the last 16 in their first ever European Championships, meaning one will only go on to add to their incredible run.

With a quarter-final tie against Belgium or Hungary to come, both O'Neill and Chris Coleman will be desperate to set up a clash with one of the two aforementioned nations.

O'Neill pays his respects to Wales

The NI boss was full of praise for the Welsh after they won their group, finishing ahead of England and Slovakia.

O'Neill says "they're in a good place" and their "great performance against Russia" was one they have "watched back", meaning he "expect[s] a tough game".

He believes that "the teams know each other very well". He cited the 1-1 draw earlier in the year in Cardiff, where Craig Cathcart and Simon Church traded goals.

O'Neill does feel this is a tussle his side could come out on top in, "But it's a game we believe we can come through, but we expect a very tough game."

The Northern Ireland squad are in good spirits ahead of the historic clash. | Image credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images
The Northern Ireland squad are in good spirits ahead of the historic clash. | Image credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Feel good factor

O'Neill admitted the team are excited about the return to Paris, "The players were really upbeat knowing we would be coming back to the Parc des Princes."

We've played here obviously on Tuesday night against the world champions and I think the experience of doing that will serve us well come the game tomorrow night.

The boss concluded, "We'll have to be at our best, it will be a different type of game."

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About the author
Jonathan Walsh
SoccerSight IFA commentator. VAVEL deputy editor-in-chief/VAVEL Bundesliga editor-in-chief and writer. Email: [email protected]