Northern Ireland’s men’s Under-19 team lost out to a powerful Denmark team in a UEFA U19 Euro qualifier in Albania.
Competition
U19 Euro 2025 Qualifying Round – Group 11
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U19s 0 Denmark U19s 4
Scorers
Denmark: Mikel Kruger-Johnsen (18’, 26’), Oscar Schwartau (21’), Nikolaj Juul-Sandberg (32’)
Venue
Niko Dovana Stadium, Durres
Date
13 November 2024
Team News
This was Northern Ireland’s first game in the qualifying round for U19 Euro 2025. The other two teams in the group are Israel and Group 11 mini tournament hosts Albania.
Only eight players who were in the 20-strong Northern Ireland panel for UEFA U19 Euro 2024 in July remain in U19 boss Gareth McAuley’s squad, although several players who played in the home tournament - games were staged in Belfast and Larne - are no longer eligible to play for the U19s.
Six of those eight players - goalkeeper Mason Munn, defenders Josh Briggs and Tom Atcheson, midfielders Aodhan Doherty and Blaine McClure plus striker Braiden Graham – started the game. The other two, midfielders Jack Doherty and Dylan Stitt, were among the subs.
The top two teams in 13 QR groups and the best third-placed team will join top seeds Portugal in the elite round next spring. The seven elite round group winners will join hosts Romania at the finals next summer.
How it happened
Gareth McAuley expected Denmark, who have a good pedigree at international youth level, to be really tough opponents – and that proved to be the case.
The Danes pushed forward from the start. Attacker Oscar Schwartau steered a shot wide before they took the lead on 18 minutes through another forward, Mikel Kruger-Johnsen.
Schwartau netted three minutes later to make it 2-0 before Kruger-Johnsen, who scored a couple of goals for Denmark when they competed in the U19 Euros back in the summer, extended the lead further on 26 minutes.
In the 32nd minute midfielder Nikolaj Juul-Sandberg made it 4-0 as Denmark continued to launch attacks.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U19s 0 Denmark U19s 4
Northern Ireland took the game to the Danes after the break and their overall performance was much better in the second half compared to the first half.
Danish keeper Oscar Buur saved efforts from substitutes Harry Lynch and Jack Doherty in quick succession. Down the other end Munn kept out an attempt by Kruger-Johnsen before Buur saved an effort from Aodhan Doherty.
Northern Ireland enjoyed more possession but found a resolute Danish defence hard to break down.
In the closing stages Denmark right wing-back Hjalte Bidstrup fired a shot wide.
Matchday two for Northern Ireland’s U19s is on Saturday (16 November) when they will meet Israel at the Niko Dovana Stadium in Durres (11am UK time), while their final game in the group is next Tuesday (19 Nov) when they are due to play the Albanians at the Elbasan Arena (2pm UK time).
Full-time: Northern Ireland U19s 0 Denmark U19s 4
Line-ups
Northern Ireland: Mason Munn, Senan Devine, Conor Haughey, Josh Briggs, Tom Atcheson, Callum Burnside, Cole Brannigan, Blaine McClure, Braiden Graham, Aodhan Doherty, Francis Turley.
Substitutes: (used) Jack Doherty, Harry Lynch, Paul McGovern, Matthew Orr, Ryan Corrigan; (unused) Ben Metcalf (GK), Keevan Hawthorne, Ceadach O’Neill, Dylan Stitt.
Denmark: Oscar Buur, Hjalte Bidstrup, Lukas Hansen, Luka Carstensen, Mikkel Kristensen, Cornelius Olsson (captain), Justin Janssen, Nikolaj Juul-Sandberg, Mikel Kruger-Johnsen, Mike Themsen, Oscar Schwartau.
Substitutes: (used) Tobias Jensen, Peter Berthelsen, Lukas Larsen, Oliver Hojer; (unused) Lucas Martin (GK), Lucas Hogsberg, Julius Nielsen, Oliver Bodker, Markus Walker.
