Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill says his team is “full of confidence” ahead of their Nations League double-header against Belarus and Luxembourg.
O’Neill’s side lead Group 3 of League C with seven points after two wins, a draw and a defeat in their four games in the competition to date.
Last month, O’Neill’s charges followed a 0-0 draw in Belarus with a hugely impressive performance in a 5-0 win over Bulgaria in Belfast.
Belarus visit Windsor Park on Friday night and an away game against Luxembourg on Monday will complete the campaign.
Finishing first in the group can help secure a path to the 2026 World Cup finals through play-off qualification.
“There’s a lot of positivity around the team, which is good. It’s also keeping people grounded a little bit,” O’Neill told BBC Sport NI.
“You’re not going to go out and score five goals every time you play. As long as the team continues to do things well, play with the same intensity, play with the same energy, involve the crowd in the game, which is always very important in Belfast.
“This is a team that is going to grow. “The exciting time for this team will probably be three or four years from now, but they have reached a point where they are winning games at international level and it is a good habit for them.”
