O’Neill was delighted with Northern Eire’s begin on a heat and sticky evening in Palma, when Ballard headed house a free-kick from debutant Caolan Boyd-Munce.
With Euro 2024 across the nook, O’Neill stated he knew dealing with a “extremely motivated” Spain can be “tough” for his younger workforce, who drew with Romania and defeated Scotland in March’s two fixtures.
“We could not have began the sport any higher with the aim and we labored exhausting on set-pieces, ensuring we may use them properly,” he stated.
“We simply did not defend our field. On the primary aim, we may do higher on Pedri but it surely’s an actual piece of high quality for the end.
“For the opposite objectives we do not defend crosses, it is so simple as that.”
Regardless of the heavy scoreline, O’Neill stated the sport will profit his younger squad as he appears to be like to construct the following technology for Northern Eire.
“We now have gamers in our group like Jonny and Corry [Evans] who’ve performed in these video games earlier than and know what it is like, however for our youthful gamers we now have uncovered them to the highest degree of worldwide soccer.
“The aim gave us an awesome begin and we regarded on the entrance foot, however abruptly we had been behind and we regarded a little bit bit shocked by that,” stated O’Neill, who added that Morata’s aim to present Spain the lead “knocked the arrogance” of his workforce.
“That is a part of the expertise. We’re away from house towards a high aspect, it’s a must to keep within the recreation.”
Whereas Spain prepare for his or her Euro 2024 opener, Northern Eire will journey to Murcia to tackle Andorra on Tuesday in a match that needs to be vastly completely different to Saturday’s encounter.
O’Neill expects his gamers to be taught from the defeat and take that into the sport towards the minnows, who themselves had been defeated 5-0 by Spain on Tuesday.
“It was tough, however within the second half we made modifications and freshened the workforce up, and we contained Spain,” O’Neill stated.
“The sport perhaps dropped a gear, which was pure with the warmth and situations, however we now have to be taught from this.”