NI 'have to believe' against Germany - Hume

Trai Hume scored his first international goal against Slovakia on Friday

World Cup qualifying: Northern Ireland v Germany

Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Date: Monday, 13 October Time: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Watch on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, listen on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds, follow live text coverage on the BBC Sport website & app

Northern Ireland defender Trai Hume says the side will carry the belief that "anything is possible" into their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Germany in Belfast on Monday night.

Four-time World Cup winners Germany have won their past 10 matches against Northern Ireland, including last month's fixture in Cologne, but the sides go into this game both on six points from three games in Group A.

After beating Slovakia at home on Friday night, pulling off an upset against Julian Nagelsmann's side would keep Michael O'Neill's team right in the mix to qualify automatically for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year.

"You have to believe anything is possible really. If you don't believe, then you're not going to be able to do it," said Sunderland defender Hume, who scored his first international goal in the 2-0 win against Slovakia.

"We know how strong Germany are. We knew that from Cologne when they won 3-1, but we were in the game for a large part of it.

"We know the challenge that we face, but you have to believe, always."

Hume was later asked if he would settle for a draw on Monday to keep the sides level on points going into next month's final pair of qualifiers.

"No, you want three points," he said. "You want to win every game you play."

Northern Ireland have not qualified for the World Cup since reaching back-to-back tournaments in 1982 and 1986.

Even if they don't finish in the top two of their group - first place earns automatic qualification with second a spot in the play-offs - Northern Ireland could still have another route to the tournament next summer through their Nations League placing.

Four Nations League winners not otherwise qualified will be included in the March play-offs.

Hume, however, said the focus remains solely on the Germany game.

"Personally, you don't really think of the bigger picture. You think of the game that's coming up," said the 23-year-old.

"If you win the game [Monday] night, you worry about the next game after that.

"You don't look too far ahead. You worry about that whenever you do have enough points that you qualify and that's when you enjoy it."

Bradley's suspension 'a little bit severe'

Northern Ireland will be without Conor Bradley for Monday's game after the Liverpool defender picked up his second booking of the campaign against Slovakia.

O'Neill said he feels it is "a little bit severe" that two cautions across a qualifying campaign results in a one-game ban, and he will have likely starters Daniel Ballard, Ali McCann, Justin Devenny and Ethan Galbraith all walking a similar tightrope against Germany.

"I know obviously in Uefa for the Euros it's three, but for Fifa it's always been two," O'Neill said of suspensions for accumulated yellow cards.

"I always felt that two bookings, if you're playing in a six-team group or a five-team group, was a little bit harsh but, look, that's the rules. They're there."

O'Neill still thinks that Bradley's caution against Slovakia for a 76th-minute tackle on Lukas Haraslin was unwarranted.

"I think if you watch the tackle back, there's a lot worse tackles in the game and for some reason the referee produced a yellow card at that moment in time," he added.

"Obviously, despite all the cameras and VAR and everything we have, we're not allowed to look at that. Those are the rules we just have to live with."