O’Neill admired the efficiency of his younger facet, who’ve made an excellent begin to qualifying.
A win in Luxembourg was adopted by an hour of matching European heavyweights Germany, who ultimately prevailed to win 3-1.
Friday’s win was very good from first minute to final. A Patrik Hrosovsky personal objective broke the impasse earlier than Hume’s very good effort with just below 10 minutes left made positive – however was it the perfect underneath O’Neill?
“I do not actually have a look at video games like that as a result of groups evolve,” O’Neill stated when requested if it was probably the most full efficiency since his return in 2023 for a second spell in cost.
The Germany fixture can be his a centesimal sport as Northern Eire boss.
“The crew once I got here again in could be very completely different to the crew now,” O’Neill stated. “They’ve given different good performances, like at dwelling right here to Bulgaria [a 5-0 win in October 2024] once we had been glorious.
“I feel tonight was a crew of a better calibre as nicely, so you’ll be able to say it is among the greatest performances we have had, however I nonetheless assume there’s extra within the tank, and I feel the gamers consider that as nicely.”
O’Neill was additionally filled with reward for Hume, who has moved up the leagues with Sunderland and is now a Premier League common.
The defender’s objective had come after the in-form David Strelec poked an effort vast for Slovakia. Prior to now, when there felt like an inevitability that the opposition would hit again, Hume’s effort modified that narrative.
“We deserved to be multiple objective forward with how the sport had gone, however we wanted that second objective,” stated O’Neill.
“Slovakia are a superb crew and are very skilled at worldwide degree, and it solely takes a second.
“They did have that likelihood and so they missed it. As a younger crew you’ll be able to lose confidence and momentum in that scenario, however when the second objective went in – and it was a terrific end – it was nice for him as he is such an essential participant for us.”
