Northern Ireland U19s manager Gareth McAuley is looking ahead to UEFA Euro qualifiers after “a good workout” against Sweden in a three-team mini tournament in Norway.
Competition
UEFA U19 Friendly
Scoreline
Sweden U19s 2-0 Northern Ireland U19s
Scorers
Sweden: Jawla (45’, 46’)
Venue
Lisleby Stadion, Fredrikstad
Date
8 September 2024
Team News
A smattering of changes were made to the Northern Ireland team that went down narrowly to Norway in their first game in the mini tournament staged in southern Norway.
How it happened
McAuley said his team acquitted themselves well against high quality opposition.
He explained: “We improved in areas from the Norway game, which we were happy with. We had a bit more belief in what we were doing. We were aggressive in the wide areas and played a lot higher up the pitch, which was good."
Despite the front foot approach a brace of goals were bagged on the stroke of half-time by Swedish striker Kalipha Jawla, who plays his football for Djurgårdens IF in Sweden’s top tier.
“The boys grew into it and had the belief as well as big moments really going against them,” said McAuley.
“The goals were very preventable and we missed an opportunity after building up some real momentum. We had Sweden on the back foot and under pressure for long periods.”
Half-time: Sweden U19s 2-0 Northern Ireland U19s
Northern Ireland enjoyed good spells in the second half, pressing the opposition in wide areas in particular.
McAuley pointed to the age of the players, many of whom were in the younger age bracket for the U19 group.
He said: “It’s a big ask for them sometimes, especially on the physical side, which we need to be better at.
“But it's good to expose these younger players to the levels they know they have to get to and it's a challenge to them both on and off the pitch.
"It's all a good learning exercise, however we need to keep putting the basics in place with our boys and turn those little bits and pieces into habits that they have in their everyday lives and at their clubs.”
McAuley will now take stock before planning begins in earnest for November’s qualifying round for U19 Euro 2025, which is due to be staged in Romania next summer.
“Despite the results, the mood was good, and the future is definitely bright,” he added.
Northern Ireland have been drawn in Group 11 in the qualifying round where their opponents will be Israel, Denmark and Albania. Albania will host the four-team mini tournament in November (dates/venues TBC).
Full-time: Sweden U19s 2-0 Northern Ireland U19s
Sweden U19s: William Nieroth-Lundgren, Emir El-Kathemi, Albin Gashi, John Mellberg, Viggo Jeppsson (captain), Noel Sernelius, Kalipha Jawla, Zakaria Loukili, Elias Pihlstrom, William Rashidi, Keyano Marrah.
Substitutes: Sixten Bringzen (GK), Noah Ek, Kasper Berndtsson, David Tokpah, Antonio Kujundzic, Santino Samuyiwa, William Andersson, Mohudin Nuurdin Ali.
Northern Ireland U19s: Mason Munn (captain), James Simpson, Matthew Orr, Josh Briggs, Senan Devine, Keevan Hawthorne, Blaine McClure, Francis Turley, Braiden Graham, Ryan Corrigan, Cole Brannigan.
Substitutes: Josh Gracey (GK), Calum Moreland, George Goodman, Jack Doherty, Dylan Stitt, Max Wilson, Michael Brammeld, Isaac Hughes, Sam Anderson, Aodhan Doherty, Rhys Walsh.
