Tanya Oxtoby ‘really, really happy’ with Nations League draw as NI plot path to Euro 2025 Finals
Tanya Oxtoby is pleased with Northern Ireland's Nations League draw
The Northern Ireland Women's team that competed at Euro 2022
Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby has declared herself “really, really happy” after her side were drawn against Bosnia & Herzegovina, Portugal and Malta in Group B3 of the Nations League, which will serve as a qualifying campaign for next summer’s European Championships.
Tanya Oxtoby’s side, who made their maiden tournament bow at the last edition in Europe, will need to finish in the top-three of the four-team group in order to qualify for the Play-Offs for a place in Switzerland in July 2025.
Portugal, who qualified for the Finals of last year’s World Cup, are theoretically the toughest side Oxtoby's side could have drawn as the highest ranked nation in League B in 19th, but will certainly fancy their chances against Bosnia and Malta.
“I am really, really happy in terms of our group. It looks like a really good mix of opponents,” said Oxtoby. “I’m really excited to see what our first round of games is going to be.”
That said, Northern Ireland have had success against Portugal before, winning 1-0 in Lisbon in 2017 thanks to Marissa Callaghan’s goal, before losing 1-0 to the same opponents in Belfast.
The only previous meeting between Northern Ireland and Bosnia, who are ranked 64th, was a scoreless draw in March 2015, while this is set to be the first meeting between Oxtoby's side and Malta, who are down in 86th.
The games will be played in three two-game windows, starting in the first ten days of April, followed by May 27 – June 4 and then concluding on July 8 – 16.
Meanwhile, Ireland have been drawn against England, France and Sweden in League A, with the home tie with England likely to
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