'We are ready for the challenge' - Oxtoby on Portugal

Northern Ireland are third in their Euro 2025 qualifying group after a draw against Malta and a win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in their first two games

Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby says that her side are "ready for the challenge" of facing Portugal in Euro 2025 qualifying.

Oxtoby's charges travel to Leiria on Friday to take on Francisco Neto's side, before the two teams meet at Mourneview Park on Tuesday.

Portugal, who have qualified for the last two Euros and the recent World Cup, are top of the group having won their opening two games.

But Oxtoby is not daunted by the task that awaits third-place NI.

"I think we are going to learn a lot about ourselves," she said.

"We’ve dominated games in this group so far in terms of possession, but I think we are going to be under the pump without the ball in these two games.

"I’m really excited to see how we take on this challenge."

NI 'blessed' with wide options

Northern Ireland are unbeaten in 2024 and come into this international window off the back of an impressive first win in the group, a 3-1 triumph against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica.

Oxtoby knows that Northern Ireland will have to adjust their style of play to try and pick up a positive result in Leiria.

"I think it is naive to say we will go out there and play the same, there will be elements of our game that are the same, but we will be a bit different because of factors like the heat and travel," she explained.

"We just need to be mindful of that and tweak things to be sure we can get a good performance and a good result."

Linfield's Keri Halliday impressed for Northern Ireland on her first start against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last international window

Northern Ireland are without Sarah McFadden and Megan Bell because of injury, but Cliftonville duo Kelsie Burrows and Danielle Maxwell have returned to the squad.

Oxtoby acknowledged that NI miss McFadden's "experience" but pointed to the versatility of others in the squad to deputise in her absence.

"You can’t shy away from what she [McFadden] brings to the group, but Deano [Nadene Caldwell] played there last game, that wasn’t the plan but with the virus that went through the squad she had to and I thought she did an exceptional job.

"When I’m looking at the squad, I’m looking at players that can play different positions and I feel like we’ve got that."

She continued: "Maybe from the outside people may think we look a bit light because we don’t have four or five out and out centre-halves, but we have players that can certainly fill those roles if we ask them to."

Oxtoby was also keen to highlight the exciting talents Northern Ireland have in wide areas, with the likes of Casey Howe, Maxwell and Keri Halliday vying for a place in the team alongside the experienced Lauren Wade.

"It’s an area we are pretty blessed in and I’m excited to see how they get on in this window.

"They will not have as much of the ball, but they will be important when we win the ball back and in transition, but we're in good stead in those areas."