Leeds United winger Stuart Dallas has admitted to the Belfast Telegraph that while Northern Ireland are hurting after their loss to Poland, they will be ready to face Ukraine.
Northern Ireland put up a committed performance against the Polish and were able to keep star player Robert Lewandowski quiet for the game, but they were unable to hold out when Leicester City target Arkadiusz Milik broke through the defence to score and with very little attacking threat up front for most of the game, the Irish went on to lose the game 1-0.
Dallas didn’t start the game and instead came on for Manchester United’s Paddy McNair after he failed to impress, and he was able to change the game. With the substitution and a change in formation, the game did tilt in Northern Ireland’s favour but it wasn’t enough as they started the tournament with a loss.
After losing, Dallas said,
“It was disappointing not to start but it’s not about me – we are a team first and foremost and it’s the manager’s decision. Any player who says they are not disappointed to start is telling lies. I respect the manager’s decision. He set out the team the way he wanted us to play, we know we are a good team and good enough to get a result against the likes of Poland. Unfortunately we just couldn’t do that.
“I am my own biggest critic – I thought I did okay. I didn’t get a lot of the ball.”
“Unfortunately even when I came on we didn’t really create anything but I gave 100% and tried my absolute best. I’m not going to criticise those players in the first half – we may have had a lot more ball than in the first half but we just weren’t brave enough and at times and didn’t show what we can do.
“But it’s not over yet. We are still very much in this tournament.”
