February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Group 6, drawn in Frankfurt, Germany, two weeks ago, also comprises Wales, Poland, Austria and the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.
Along with Scotland, the Welsh and England were Northern Ireland’s perennial foes in the Home Nations Championships before the tournament was discontinued in the early 80s.
“It’s a tough group but it’s a fantastic group,” said McIlroy, who stepped down after the North’s unsuccessful Euro ’04 campaign two months ago.
“I think the happiest manager will be (Sven-Goran) Eriksson – he will be delighted with the group and England must be favorites to progress,” McIlroy added.
“It won’t be easy in Belfast though, there’ll be a fantastic atmosphere.”
Now in charge of English Second Division side Stockport, McIlroy, however, cautioned against underrating any of the group members.
“There’s no easy game at all especially in a competition like this — everyone will be difficult,” he noted.
Said Eriksson of the forthcoming qualifiers against the Irish and Welsh: “It’s local derbies, more or less.”
Northern Ireland have yet to name McIlroy’s successor. The North was 0-5-3 (win, loss, draw) under the former Manchester United star. They established, in the process, a record for futility in front of the goalmouth, going 13 matches without scoring a goal.
Northern Ireland last tallied in a 4-1 loss to Poland in Limassol in February 2002.
That defeat, though, was their first to the Poles – one of two teams in Group 6 that the Irish hold the edge over in head-to-head contests.
In five encounters with Poland, the North has won three times, tied once and lost once.