WHEN Ian Dowie declared this week that "life could be easier" for Northern Ireland's football team the muscular West Ham centre forward was simply restating a sentiment all Northern Ireland's fans have felt for some time.

When Dowie's international manager, Bryan Hamilton, heard the draw for the next World Cup in Paris in December his reaction was: "I don't know whether to laugh or cry." He paused briefly before adding: "Having thought about it, I think I'll cry."

Hamilton and Dowie know it is not easy being a European minnow and both their statements are understandable when you look at Group Nine. With Germany and Portugal in their group Northern Ireland's chances of reaching the finals once again looks slim.

The one consolation for Hamilton is that even with an improving team, public expectation is not demanding. They realise Northern Ireland's FIFA ranking is 63rd, though what would be appreciated is a home win. They managed that only twice in their Euro `96 qualifiers and one more, against Latvia for instance, would have taken them to the finals.

A start can be made this afternoon at Windsor Park but it will be difficult against the Ukraine. Even without players of the quality of Victor Onopko and Andrei Kanchelskis, who opted to play for Russia, the Ukrainians were the only team to beat Croatia on their way to England. They were also one up in Italy before Fabrizio Ravanelli struck twice.

Kalitvintsev and Guseynov of Chernomorets are the principal dangers to the Irish whose major problem is finding a replacement for the withdrawn centre half, Barry Hunter. His spot may be filled by the latest in a long line of Northern Irish Manchester United players - 22-year-old Pat McGibbon.