Michael O’Neill has said Northern Ireland boast some of the finest players in the country’s history and deserve more credit for their progress since the European Championship last summer.

O’Neill’s team welcome the Czech Republic to Windsor Park on Mon needing to avoid defeat to secure second place in Group C and a possible World Cup play-off. Northern Ireland have never reached back-to-back tournaments but victory in San Marino on Friday, which stretched their winning run to a record four matches, brought qualification for Russia a step closer. The manager believes his players warrant recognition alongside those such as George Best, Pat Jennings and Danny Blanchflower for what they have delivered over the past two qualifying campaigns.

“We got our customary 15 seconds on Football Focus which we were delighted with,” said O’Neill, sardonically, when asked whether Northern Ireland’s form had escaped wider attention. “It’s not for me to say; I just prepare the team. Credit is down to other people but for a team with the resources we have, and a small country to be where we are in the rankings and in qualification, the players deserve enormous credit.

“The biggest challenge after France was to maintain our level but I think we have increased it – six clean sheets, where we are in the group [second behind the world champions, Germany] and the assurance in our performances. In the 2014 campaign we lost the majority of games in the last 20 minutes. That doesn’t happen now. Now we win them in the last 20 minutes and that shows the changing mind-set of the players and our improvement.”

The captain, Steven Davis, will win his 97th cap at what will be an expectant and raucous Windsor Park. Despite standing seven points clear of the Czechs with three matches to play, O’Neill says there will be no complacency.

The Northern Ireland manager said: “Whether the fans turn up for a party or not is their decision, but there have been no invitations. It is not going to be a party. The players aren’t expecting a party. We have nothing to celebrate just yet and we would still have a play-off game to come so there is a lot more football to be played. If we do get second place it is a fantastic achievement but it doesn’t guarantee us a place in Russia [the best eight runners-up qualify for the World Cup play-offs].

“My real satisfaction in all of this is for our players, particularly those close to 100 caps. For those players to get the opportunity to go to a World Cup is phenomenal, particularly off the back of the Euros. We’ll talk about the great players and who’s Northern Ireland’s greatest player but, when you view players based on their international careers, you’ll find some players in our squad will have international careers that will rank up with the best ever players that have played for Northern Ireland.”Second place in a challenging qualifying group is not the only mark of Northern Ireland’s remarkable progress under O’Neill. They have kept six clean sheets in seven qualifying fixtures – a record only England have equalled throughout Europe – and their manager believes his Czech counterpart, Karel Jarolím, may struggle to find a defensive weakness in the Northern Ireland shape.

O’Neill said: “I would imagine most coaches do what I do and look for things in your opponents, try and find weaknesses, although when we played Germany we made things up, to be honest, because you can’t just tell your players the other team are fantastic.

“How do other coaches view us? They can’t go back and show loads of goals against us. It makes other teams’ jobs more difficult. Teams know each other so well now, there is not so much unknown, and when you see a team hasn’t conceded for so many games it is a big plus for you. It is more about our mindset and how we are. The Czech Republic are a very dangerous side, the pot-two side in the qualifying draw, and we will have to be at our best to win. The prize is much greater for us than for them. They have to win to stay alive. We have to win to guarantee second place. I would rather be in our situation.”

Northern Ireland (4-3-2-1): McGovern; C McLaughlin, Hughes, J Evans, Brunt; Davis, C Evans, Norwood; Magennis, Dallas; Washington.

Czech Republic (4-2-3-1): Vaclik; Kaderabek, Sivok, Brabec, Selassie; Darida, Soucek; Krejci, Dockal, Zmrhal; Krmencik.

Referee D Orsato (It)