NI's 'decision-making' lacking in Sweden - O'Neill
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said his side "need to defend better" after a 5-1 friendly defeat to Sweden in Stockholm on Tuesday night. Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak scored a superb fourth for the hosts, having also created their opener.While Isaac Price did find the net for Northern Ireland late on, O'Neill felt the scoreline was "a little harsh" on his side. "They had some great moments, some great goals, Isak's in particular," said O'Neill."We need to defend better."As a back three we didn't defend great, as a back five we didn't defend great in terms of our decision-making."Sweden led 2-0 at half-time courtesy of their only two shots on target of the opening 45 minutes, while Northern Ireland's Ruairi McConville missed a great chance with a header just before the break."I didn't think in the first-half there was a lot in it. They had two shots and scored two goals," O'Neill said."We've two shots, the keeper makes a save and the other misses the target."It wasn't as if we were relying on our keeper to make a load of saves or anything like that."O'Neill said he had taken the friendly against Sweden to "expose the players" to a higher level than they faced in Nations League C during the autumn, but felt that injuries cost his side at the Strawberry Arena. Northern Ireland were without Liverpool's Conor Bradley and Sunderland duo Trai Hume and Dan Ballard in their defence. Midfielder Ali McCann and striker Dion Charles were also absent through injury. "We're missing players that will make a difference to the team, probably five or six players, potentially starting players," he added.Northern Ireland are next in action with a pair of June friendlies against Denmark away and Iceland at home.
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