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Northern Ireland defeat to Slovakia not 'end of era', says Ian Baraclough

There has already been significant turnover in the squad since Euro 2016 as the likes of Gareth McAuley, Chris Brunt and Aaron Hughes have all moved on, and there will now be speculation over the next move for a number of senior players, not least 35-year-old skipper Steven Davis

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Highlights of the Euro 2020 play-off final between Northern Ireland and Slovakia

Ian Baraclough has denied Northern Ireland's defeat to Slovakia represents the end of an era as his side's hopes of reaching Euro 2020 were cruelly ended.

Northern Ireland suffered a 2-1 play-off final defeat at Windsor Park, with Slovakia's Michal Duris striking in the 110th minute of the game after an 88th-minute own goal gave the home side hope and forced the match into extra-time.

Baraclough's team began the night as favourites as they looked to secure qualification to a second consecutive European Championship, but the heroics of the famous win over Greece five years ago could not be repeated.

There has already been significant turnover in the squad since Euro 2016 as the likes of Gareth McAuley, Chris Brunt and Aaron Hughes have all moved on, and there will now be speculation over the next move for a number of senior players, not least 35-year-old skipper Steven Davis.

But Baraclough said it was too soon to talk about the futures of any of his players.

"There's not an end of an era feel," he said. "I've told the players they can all go again. It's not a case of writing anyone off. That's for you guys to speculate, but you'll not get that feel from me."

I've told the players they can all go again. It's not a case of writing anyone off. That's for you guys to speculate, but you'll not get that feel from me.
Ian Baraclough

Northern Ireland have little time to pick themselves up, with their next fixture away to Austria on Sunday in the Nations League.

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Baraclough's options could be depleted for the match. Aside from those that completed 120 minutes at Windsor Park, Stuart Dallas played on with an elbow injury while Craig Cathcart and Paddy McNair hobbled off in extra-time.

"There might be five or six from this game that don't even make the trip," Baraclough said. "That's to look at (on Friday). That's the nature of these tripleheaders that the squad has to be used to the maximum.

"Now we've got to be ready to give a big effort again in three days' time.

"We've not even talked about Austria yet. It had all been about this game. We'll start to think about Austria tomorrow."

'Fighting back is in Norther Ireland's DNA'

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Former Northern Ireland defender Stephen Craigan says failure to qualify for Euro 2020 is tough to take after defeat to Slovakia

Former Northern Ireland international Stephen Craigan told Sky Sports News the defeat will take a while to get over, but with Austria in the Nations League looming on Sunday, and then World Cup qualification starting in March, Baraclough is right to try and look forward.

"It's in our DNA, we always fight back and punch above our weight, but this will take a little while to get over," Craigan said. "The fact the players have a game on Sunday, they'll be feeling it. It's going to be a big effort for the boys to regroup.

"Ian's reaction is natural, you want to give people some hope, but deep down he'll be hurting as well. I think it's a tough job for him to take because Michael O'Neill did ever so well at Northern Ireland, he got the best out of the group, who have continued to raise the bar.

"People say the golden generation, they went to Euro 2016 but missed out on 2018, and they've missed out in another play-off, so it's been a long time since Northern Ireland have been challenging in these competitions and giving ourselves hope of going to major tournaments.

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"The bar has been set, so the players are going to have to get back up for it again. That will seem a long way away for a lot of them this morning, they will be down, disappointed, frustrated. I always think it's important to look back with no regrets but I think they will have regrets from last night because Slovakia weren't really any better than us, but ultimately took their chances.

"The World Cup seems a long way away, Sunday is more important than anything. It's about trying to refocus the players. We've had a good spell the last four or five years, it would be nice to think it can continue."

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