Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has highlighted the upcoming friendlies against Guinea and France as a key chance to develop his side’s style of play.
O’Neill’s squad will be looking to move on from the disappointment of their World Cup play-off defeat by Italy in March, when they face the two nations this summer.
The two friendlies come as Northern Ireland build towards their Nations League campaign, where they have been drawn alongside Georgia, Hungary and Ukraine.
When asked about the goals of the friendly matches, O’Neill told BBC Sport NI that the priority is giving as many players as possible valuable game time.
“Just to enjoy the game and try and get as many players as we can involved in the game,” O’Neill said.
“To see the further development of the team. I think as we develop as a team now, our possession-based football, maybe to see an improvement in that a little bit as our out-of-possession football has been excellent.”
O’Neill also spoke about the broader benefits of the squad getting together regularly, particularly given the youth of the current group.
“Every time we get together, you’re hoping that we can further develop. The group is extremely young, it gives us an opportunity to bring younger players and get them around and just integrate as many young players as possible,” he added.
Two uncapped teenagers, Braiden Graham and Ceadach O’Neill, have attracted attention after being included in the squad for the fixtures.
Graham has earned his call-up after scoring 22 goals in 31 appearances for Everton’s under-21 side, while O’Neill has impressed in Arsenal’s academy setup.
Neither teenager has yet made a senior appearance for their respective clubs, though both have featured on the bench at that level.
O’Neill was careful to stress that no pressure will be placed on the young pair during this international window.
“We’re not putting any expectation on these lads that are here. They’ve been in our underage system. They’re still yet to play first team football with their respective clubs, but they’re obviously both at big clubs,” he said.
The Northern Ireland manager outlined just how significant the next few years will be for both players as they look to establish themselves in senior football.
“The next phase for them, the next two or three years is very important. That 18 to 21 period in their career will determine a lot of whether they come through at their respective clubs or whether they go through the loan period,” O’Neill explained.
“A lot of variables in there, but we’re here to let them know that they’re very much in our plans,” he added.
Northern Ireland face Guinea in Spain on 4 June before travelling to take on France four days later in their final match before the World Cup.
Guinea currently sit 10 places below Northern Ireland in the Fifa rankings, with the two nations set to meet for the very first time in their history.
O’Neill acknowledged that accessing footage of their upcoming opponents had proven difficult, though preparation had matched the standard of a competitive fixture.
“The footage is not as readily accessible, but we know that they’re a team that most of their players are obviously connected to European clubs and they play at different levels throughout Europe,” he said.
O’Neill expects Guinea to pose a genuine threat, pointing to their connections with the French football system and a relatively new Portuguese coach in charge.
“We know it will be a tough game against an athletic team [with] a relatively new coach as well, a Portuguese coach, so we know that it will be a tough test,” he concluded.
