Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has said he is "sorry" if Northern Ireland felt his comments about their style of play were disrespectful.

Nagelsmann caused a stir after Germany's 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Northern Ireland in Cologne last month -- when he said Michael O'Neill's side play "a lot of long balls" with an approach that "isn't particularly easy on the eyes."

The topic has returned to the fore ahead of Monday's Group A rematch in Belfast, with O'Neill responding by pointing to the number of times Germany pumped the ball long themselves in Cologne, adding it was not his job to worry about what his opponents may think.

Asked about the view that his comments had been disrespectful, Nagelsmann said on Sunday: "I didn't mean any disrespect. I said it may not be beautiful

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