Northern Ireland to play Caribbean nations in friendlies

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

BELFAST, Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland will play friendly games against three Caribbean nations before the first competitive game with their new manager, Lawrie Sanchez in charge.

Sanchez has admitted he had taken on one of the toughest jobs in world football when he was unveiled as the new manager of struggling Northern Ireland at a media conference in Belfast.

His first match in charge will be next month's home friendly against Norway at Windsor Park, Belfast on February 18th.

Four more friendlies, including games against Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago, follow before Sanchez faces his first competitive game in charge. 

Northern Ireland, who are in the same World Cup qualifying group as England and Wales, begin their quest to reach the 2006 finals in Germany at home to Poland on September 4. 

Sanchez, who in his playing days scored the goal that gave Wimbledon a shock FA Cup final win against Liverpool in 1988, likened Northern Ireland to his old club saying they were "the Crazy Gang" of the global game, a nickname used to describe Wimbledon during his time there.  

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