"If you look at the majority of players in my squad, outside of the four lads who play in the Premier League, they play the majority of their games in stadiums anywhere between 10,000 to 25 or 30,000,"
"They won't be exposed to the San Siro or Stadio Olimpico, so I think we'll feel very at home in Bergamo and we won't be intimidated by the atmosphere at all."
"I saw a game live in the stadium, which I thought was important, and it is not dissimilar to our own stadium."
The World Cup play-off semi-final between Northern Ireland and Italy will be played in Bergamo at the New Balance Arena, which holds almost 25,000. Italy often stages big fixtures at the San Siro or Stadio Olimpico, but local reports indicate the smaller Bergamo venue was chosen partly to ease pressure on Italy. The play-off takes place on 26 March, with the winner travelling to Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place in the finals and a Group B spot alongside Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. Michael O'Neill said the venue suits his players and visited Atalanta's stadium to assess it.
Read at www.bbc.com
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