Italy v Northern Ireland: NI ‘thrives as underdogs’ – Spencer

If Italy fails to qualify for the World Cup, they will become the first previous winners not to qualify for three consecutive tournaments.

The Oxford United defender added that the home side “have more to worry about” in Bergamo.

“I think Italy will have more to worry about than us,” Spencer continued.

“We go into this game as the underdogs, so obviously we’re going to bring them the game and it’s up to us to perform on the night.

“As a team at night [we can] “Put a lot of pressure on them, frustrate them and anything can happen because it’s one game.”

Spencer made 19 appearances for Northern Ireland but missed the final qualifiers due to injury.

Now, the 21-year-old is looking forward to helping the team make history and keep alive the dream of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

He added: “My family, my uncles and my cousins ​​say that the day Northern Ireland played in the World Cup, I think that was 40 odd years ago.”

“I’m just saying how important it is if we do it and we can qualify and what it would mean not just for the team, but for the whole country.

“It will mean a lot to everyone and obviously it will be very good.”