An opportunity to write our names in history – O’Neill

‘It’s an opportunity to write our names in history’Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Michael O’Neill is attempting to guide Northern Ireland to a first World Cup since 1986ByAndy GrayBBC Sport NI JournalistPublished49 minutes agoMichael O’Neill says qualification for the World Cup would be “as good as anything that any Northern Ireland team has done”.Northern Ireland travel to Italy in a play-off semi-final on 26 March and are big underdogs against Gennaro Gattuso’s side.If they can stun the four-time World Cup winners, who have failed to qualify for the past two editions of the tournament, then a trip to Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina awaits in the play-off final. The overall prize is a place in Group B at the World Cup, alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.It would be a monumental effort for Northern Ireland to reach a first World Cup in 40 years, and that is something O’Neill is well aware of.”If this team can achieve this, it would be as good as anything that any Northern Ireland team has done, to go through two away games and get to a World Cup,” he told BBC Sport NI. “It’s a huge challenge, but we have the opportunity to write our names into the history of football here in Northern Ireland. “We intend to do everything possible to try and take it.”Ballard included in NI squad as Morrison called up