Northern Ireland defender Stephen Craigan is urging caution
as his country gets set to take on Latvia in their next Euro 2008 qualifier
on Saturday.
It would be easy to get carried away as Northern Ireland are currently
second in Group F after taking 16 points from their first seven games.
Their opponents, meanwhile, are firmly rooted to the bottom of the table,
with just three points from their first six games, including a defeat
at Windsor Park.
But Craigan, who plays his club football with Motherwell, believes Northern
Ireland are in for a fight in Saturday's game, which is live on Sky Sports
1.
"We are not under-estimating anyone," said Craigan. "These
things have a habit of kicking you in the teeth.
"There is very little between the teams as we saw at Windsor Park.
Latvia are solid enough.
"Let's be honest, we have never found any game easy. We have had
to fight for points and results."
Praise
Craigan is full of praise for new Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington,
whose first match as national manager saw a 3-1 triumph against Liechtenstein.
This maintained the winning momentum created under Lawrie Sanchez, which
he hopes can continue first in Latvia and then against Iceland on 12th
September.
Craigan added: "The manager wants to keep things as smooth and as
natural as he can. He has done that.
"We have confidence in him - he gives you plenty of information and
keeps you up to date. That's all you need as a player.
"You just want to focus on your opponent and it has been fine from
my point of view."
With Northern Ireland just a point ahead of Spain for second spot, Craigan
knows the importance of these next two games.
"Maybe come next Thursday we will have a better idea of what we can
achieve in the group," he concluded.
,
7th September 2007
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