Watford defender Craig Cathcart says comments from Northern Ireland's doubters will drive them on at Euro 2016.
Three-time French football of the year Alain Giresse has claimed Michael O'Neill's side are "far too limited" technically to compete with their Group C rivals Germany, Poland and Ukraine.
That is despite them becoming the first team from pot five in the qualifiers to top their preliminary group.
Giresse claimed Jonny Evans was the only Northern Ireland player he had heard of and said he would be surprised if they got out of the group phase.
But Cathcart said: "I have been an underdog before with both Northern Ireland and the same at Watford in the Premier League when people wrote us off.
"When you hear things like that it does spur you on to prove those people wrong and I'm sure that's what we'll do."
The 27-year-old also refuted Giresse's suggestion that a squad which is unbeaten in 12 fixtures lacks the technical skill to match other countries.
"Absolutely not," he added. "In key positions we have real quality players and the likes of Davo (Steven Davis), Ollie (Norwood) and Wardy (Jamie Ward) are great technicians with the ball.
"We have quality in the positions that you need them in. We are really confident with the squad we have and are raring to go."
Cathcart has given an insight into the meticulous planning manager O'Neill has put into his side's preparations ahead of their first major tournament since the 1986 World Cup.
He said: "You have to look at your opposition's strength and weaknesses and try to exploit the weaknesses especially in a tournament like this.
"It will be the little details that make a big difference. The attention to detail is something that Michael has brought in.
"We get little booklets on all the opposition players. Every player we get a little dossier on and areas to exploit and those are the small percentages that can really help."