Watford defender Craig Cathcart says that he is hungry for more successes like the Euro 2016 after managing to do the unthinkable with Northern Ireland.
The national team were not expected to even qualify for the European championship, but they managed to reach the last 16 stage of the competition against all the odds. They were beaten by Wales, who were themselves a major surprise package. After having achieved such great successes only a year ago,Cathcart has reflected on an incredible summer and says that he wants to experience more of the same.
Cathcart was a crucial member of the Northern Ireland team that achieved a big success at the Euro 2016 and he is likely to have a similar role in the team going into the World Cup 2018 qualification campaign.
After being placed in a group containing world champions Germany and a top team in the form of Czech Republic, Northern Ireland were not given much of a hope ahead of the qualification campaign. Yet, they have once again managed to surprise everyone by moving into the second spot, which will provide qualification to the finals through a play-off, of the group ahead of Czech Republic. Incredibly, the club are only five points behind Germany.
As it stands, Northern Ireland will be able to reach the World Cup 2018 finals in Russia.”We’ve started quite well in World Cup qualifying as well so hopefully there’s potential for more achievements in the future.Qualifying for the World Cup would be an amazing achievement again.It [The Euros] definitely has [made me hungrier]. I think with the group of players we’ve got now – if we can do it for the Euros I’m sure we can pull together and do it again for the World Cup,” said the Watford defender.