INSIDE FOOTBALL WITH: Paul McVeigh - Northern Ireland setup has changed and it could result in Euro 2016 qualification

Former Northern Ireland star Paul McVeigh reveals just how much the national team setup has changed ahead of two huge games for his country.

The Northern Ireland set up has changed markedly since I played 20 times for my country between 1999-2004. Then, I’d travel to the agreed meet in Belfast with my team-mates at 2pm on a Sunday ahead of two international games.

Some teammates would arrive 12 hours later having spent the day drinking with friends and family. Then they’d train the next day. It wasn’t seen as being bad, it was just how it was.

Our mentality was that we played for a small country which was expected to lose matches. We’d get the odd draw, but we were whipping boys who couldn’t come close to repeating the achievements of former Northern Ireland greats.

Everything has changed and Group F leaders Northern Ireland are on the verge of reaching a first-ever European Championships. We have two forthcoming games at home to Greece on Thursday and away to Finland on Monday. Two points are needed to secure qualification.

The manager Michael O’Neill is a major reason. When he took charge in 2011, arriving from Shamrock Rovers, the results stayed poor. That was almost expected from a country with a population of just 1.5 million and lowly FIFA rankings; Northern Ireland shouldn’t have had a chance.

It took ten games for O’Neill’s first win, 19 games for a second. That second win was a 2-1 away triumph in Hungary in the first qualifier for Euro 2016, with two goals in the last ten minutes. That was a huge win and late goals would become a hallmark of this fantastic side.

Since that victory, Northern Ireland have only lost twice in ten games. They beat Greece away a year ago in a result which really made people sit up and take notice. Greece have played poorly since, but they were the top seeds in our group.

O’Neill took time to get going because he was making changes behind the scenes and putting everything on a more professional footing. He’s a meticulous planner and has shown impressive leadership skills.

Where we had a physio and a kitman, the current set up has masseurs, a player liaison officer and someone checking the food out ahead of foreign trips. We stayed in three-star places, now they stay in top hotels with better food and rest as they try and replicate Premier League standards.

Michael told the Football Association that if Northern Ireland were to be serious about competing with top nations, they had to be serious themselves and as well prepared as they could be.

There has been a massive psychological shift too. The team has gone from being perennial under achievers and whipping boys to the verge of qualification. Northern Ireland are odds of just 1/16 to qualify.

A manager can do nothing without his players and O’Neill deserves more credit here. He stays loyal to those who perform for him – and it doesn’t matter what level they play at. Right-back Conor McLaughlin plays for League One side Fleetwood Town. He’s vital for Northern Ireland and he’ll be missed now he’s suspended.

Steven Davis is the captain. He came into the set up when I was there and was quiet as a mouse; he struggled to look people in the eye. He needed to liven up in a dressing room of characters like Neil Lennon and Jim Magilton. Yet when you gave him a football he knew exactly what to do.

He’s still quiet and introverted, but Northern Ireland’s youngest ever captain has been unbelievable for his country and his club Southampton, where he plays every week.

That’s something striker Kyle Lafferty would love to at Norwich City. Instead, he’s usually on the bench, but that doesn’t stop him scoring for his country. He got that 93rd minute equaliser at home to Hungary in the last match, a vital six pointer. That didn’t come from tactical preparation, but from the desire and hunger of a team that never give in.

Only Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller have scored more goals than his seven in qualifiers, the same as Wayne Rooney and Edin Dzeko.

Jonny Evans missed the start of the campaign but has been brilliant in recent matches. There have been many more players who’ve been superb.

The players are more athletic, more professional. They’d rather have an ice bath than Smirnoff Ice after a game. They don’t relax with a few drinks like the teams of old; they’d rather go home, play on their consoles.

The people of Northern Ireland are right behind their team. Windsor Park has been redeveloped and has been missing stands, but that hasn’t detracted from the absolutely bonkers atmosphere at games.

If the team qualify as I expect, thousands of fans will go to France next summer. Northern Ireland qualifying for France would be a greater achievement than England winning the World Cup.