Tanya Oxtoby insists her players will not be playing for a draw when they face Bosnia and Herzegovina later today.
Northern Ireland are currently second in League B Group 3, in the league phase of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifiers, on goal difference – just ahead of the Bosnians.
Both teams have seven points from five games in the group, so a draw would be enough for the girls in green and white to finish the B3 campaign in second place, however the senior women’s team boss is determined to cement that runners-up spot with what could prove to be a crucial win.
Northern Ireland have already booked a place in the play-offs for next year’s Euros in Switzerland, but a win against the Bosnians at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park this evening (6 o’clock start) would give them a greater chance of being seeded in the draw for the play-offs.
Oxtoby’s team will have to make it through two rounds of play-offs to get to the finals next year and being seeded in the first set of those play-offs would be a good starting point; the draw is being held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday.
Northern Ireland reached the play-offs with a 2-0 win over Malta on Friday evening. An own goal and a fine goal from Kerry Beattie secured all three points in Ta’Qali.
The manager was pleased with the “professional performance” against the Maltese and is looking for a similar display this evening.
The Bosnians, whom Northern Ireland defeated 3-1 on their home patch in Zenica back in April, will also be coming into the game on a high.
They drew 0-0 at home against runaway group leaders, and winners, Portugal on Friday and will fancy their chances of exacting revenge on Oxtoby’s side. Bosnia and Herzegovina were the first team in the group to take points off the Portuguese.
In her Manager’s View column in the matchday programme for today’s game, the Northern Ireland boss said: “If we avoid defeat this evening at the National Stadium we will finish second in the group.
“However, I can assure you we will not be playing for a draw. We will be going for the win as a victory will hopefully see us seeded for the first instalment of two sets of play-offs for places at the finals in Switzerland next summer.
“We set ourselves a target of six points in this international window and that hasn't changed.
“Although we enjoyed a 3-1 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica back in April, we are expecting Bosnia to be really tough opponents this evening. I have no doubt they will want revenge for that previous defeat.”
Like Northern Ireland, Bosnia have a squad which is a blend of youth and experience.
Nineteen-year-old Inter Milan forward Maja Jelcic is a dangerous attacker, while her 32-year-old strike partner Milena Nikolic, who plays for Basel in Switzerland, has scored 23 goals in 58 international appearances.
Key components in the midfield engine room are Marija Aleksic (26) and Aida Hadzic (31), who play in Turkey with Besiktas and Trabzonspor respectively.
Ahead of experienced keeper Almina Hodzic, who also plays in Turkey for Atasehir, they have a couple of teenagers who are learning the trade in Italy. Marija Milnkovic (19) plays for Inter, while Gloria Sliskovic (19) is with Juventus.
The defence also features two experienced operators in Melisa Hasanbegovic (29) and Amela Krso (33). They play their club football for Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia and Sarajevo-based SFK 2000 respectively.
Training at National Stadium
