Aaron - Forever The Optimist!
Last updated : 16 October 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
But skipper and ex-Newcastle United defender Aaron Hughes is convinced Northern Ireland still have a chance of qualifying, despite a run of results that now has them at 25/1 to qualify.
Hughes made 278 appearances for Newcastle between 1997/2005, scoring six goals.
Successive defeats by Latvia and Iceland suggested the province's brave campaign was all but over.
However Hughes, 27, begs to differ and believes the province are at their best when the odds are against them.
He was in bullish mood ahead of the match with Group F leaders Sweden on Wednesday when a victory will see the hosts qualify for Austria and Switzerland.
With their final two games against Denmark at home and second-placed Spain in Las Palmas, Northern Ireland face a tough run-in.
Hughes: "We have caused upsets before, so why not again?" said the Fulham defender.
"When things are against us that is when we are at our best. There is no pressure on us, it is all on Sweden.
"We can go out and just play. We are still in it, we are not out of it despite what some people are saying, although we are going to have to do it the hard way.
"Maybe two victories and a draw will be good enough to see us qualify.
"Sweden know a win will guarantee them to go through. That is the carrot for them. But we want to keep ourselves in contention.
"Our success the past two or three years has been to concentrate on things we do best and stop the opposition playing."