Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington knows in his heart their World Cup dream is over.

However, he was quick to pay tribute to three of his senior players as the campaign draws to a close.

Northern Ireland need a win in their last qualifier against the Czech Republic in Prague next month following the 2-0 defeat by Group Three leaders Slovakia but even that is unlikely to be enough.

Second-placed Slovenia have a game in hand and round off their campaign by facing San Marino. The traditional whipping boys have not picked up a point and scored only once.

Worthington is hurting after seeing his unbeaten home run stretching over six competitive games come to an end.

But he praised the likes of goalkeeper Maik Taylor (38) and Stephen Craigan (32) - who will not get this close to a final again - as well as skipper Aaron Hughes.

Worthington said: "I cannot start to tell you how disappointed I am, for myself, for the staff, the supporters and the likes of Taylor, Hughes and Craigan.

"All three have been fantastic. They are feeling the pinch and I am hugely disappointed for them because they deserve it (to go to World Cup). They are a great group of players.

"I am gutted. Slovakia are well organised but we had a chance of going top of the group but we did not have the courage to go and take it. "

Taylor conceded the dream of securing a place in South Africa was over.

"To get this far and not have something to play for in the last game is hard to take. It is bitterly disappointing, " said the Birmingham shot-stopper.

"It will not be hard to lift ourselves as you always want to do you best for your country and win every game.

"The Czechs will be another big test for us but unfortunately there will be nothing to play for."

Hughes added: "I have not seen the atmosphere in the dressing room as low as it was after the game. Every one of the players is disappointed.

"It was all about winning and getting the three points. It didn't matter how it came but now there is only dejection."

Record scorer David Healy admitted it had been a lacklustre performance following the draw against Poland at the weekend.

He said: "We are disappointed in ourselves. It was not a normal Northern Ireland display - we did not hustle and bustle.

"Before the match, Nigel showed us what the table would look like but our chance has almost gone now. We are as far from the World Cup final as we have ever been.

"We know what it means to the fans and to their credit they kept backing us to the end."