Northern Ireland Embraces Underdog Role for Euro 2025 Play-off: ‘Anything is possible’

Northern Ireland captain Simone Magill spoke with BBC Sport NI’s Andy Gray in advance of their Euro 2025 play-off fixture against Norway. Most observers outside Northern Ireland anticipate Norway will secure a victory in their Euro 2025 play-off tie. However, this sentiment is not shared by Tanya Oxtoby’s young squad, who embrace their status as underdogs for the two-legged contest. Captain Simone Magill views the prospect of upsetting one of Europe’s highly-rated teams to qualify for next summer’s finals in Switzerland as “a great opportunity”. Magill conveyed to BBC Sport NI that “The message has been very clear this week. Anything is possible.” She added, “We’re excited. We know it’s a massive task ahead but it’s one that we are relishing.” Magill continued, “We know what we’re coming up against but we will go in and believe we can make something of these two games.” Northern Ireland aims to qualify for consecutive Euro finals, yet this upcoming challenge represents a novel experience for most members of Oxtoby’s team. Out of the 23 players who participated in the nation’s inaugural major tournament approximately two-and-a-half years prior, merely 11 have been selected for the current match against Norway. This marks the fourth encounter between Northern Ireland and Norway in recent history. Norway previously secured 6-0 victories twice during qualifying for Euro 2022, followed by a 4-1 win at the finals held in England. The squad has undergone a significant transformation in a brief period, and Magill indicates that players with prior experience on the grand stage are responsible for mentoring the team’s younger members. The Birmingham City striker further stated, “All the senior players, we have a lot of leaders and we’ve spoken a lot about that.” She elaborated, “It’s for us to step up and guide the younger players who have never experienced anything like this before.” Magill also noted, “Even talking about a major tournament, it’s new territory for a lot of our players.” She concluded, “We have to focus on the game and not the occasion and we have to take it one game at a time.” Oxtoby assumed the managerial role, succeeding Kenny Shiels, in the summer of 2023, with her inaugural match resulting in a 3-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland that September. Considering the changes in her roster and the integration of promising young talent over 15 months, the Australian coach confessed she did not anticipate her team would advance to a major tournament play-off so rapidly. Magill commented, “It’s been a real journey over this last year, but it’s been a brilliant journey.” She continued, “These are the teams we want to be playing against, we want to see where we are. What’s a better test than to play a side like Norway?” Magill added, “We have played them on numerous times in recent years but this is a chance for this young squad to see where we are.” Magill attributes the advancements achieved since Oxtoby’s initial game to the squad, stating it is a “credit” to them. She remarked, “For a long time we were the underdogs in every single game and no-one ever expected us to win games.” Magill concluded, “It’s a credit to all the players on the journey we’ve been on over the last number of years that the attitude has changed.” Northern Ireland’s most recent encounter with Norway occurred at Euro 2022. The upcoming Euro 2025 play-off on Friday will be available for viewing on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. The initial leg of the play-off is scheduled for Inver Park in Larne, instead of the larger National Stadium at Windsor Park. Inver Park shares characteristics with the more confined Seaview, a venue where Northern Ireland achieved considerable success during their Euro 2022 qualification campaign. Unlike the Covid-affected play-off in 2021, when Northern Ireland overcame Ukraine to secure a spot in their first major tournament, spectators will be permitted at both upcoming fixtures. Magill further stated, “We have spoken a lot about our fans and how important they can be for us.” She asserted, “The pressure is all on Norway. We have been underdogs our whole lives. We are on this occasion and we have to use that to our advantage.” Magill continued, “We are underdogs but we also know what we’re capable of. We have to believe in our capabilities and our strengths as a team.” She concluded, “We thrive in this situation and anything is possible. We go into Friday’s game believing that.”