Euro 2025: Who stands between Northern Ireland and the play-offs?
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Northern Ireland beat Montenegro 3-1 in their Nations League play-off to retain their League B status for Euro 2025 qualifying
Uefa Euro 2025 qualifying: Northern Ireland v Malta |
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Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Date: Friday, 5 April Kick-off: 19:00 BST |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website; live text commentary, report and reaction on the BBC Sport website |
After making history by qualifying for Euro 2022, Northern Ireland will look to go again in the new-look qualifying series to make next year's finals in Switzerland.
Euro 2025 qualifying will follow the same format as the Nations League in the autumn, with play-offs determining who joins the hosts in the finals.
It's all pretty complicated but, in short, Northern Ireland need to avoid finishing in last place in their group.
BBC Sport takes a look at who stands between Northern Ireland and a Euro 2025 play-off.
Portugal
Portugal finished bottom of Group A2 behind France, Austria and Norway
World ranking: 21
2023 Nations League: Fourth in Group A2
Form: Portugal had a mixed 2023. After years of underperforming on the world stage, they have qualified for the 2017 and 2022 Euros and they made their first World Cup appearance last year - where they were close to knocking out the USA in the group stages. They also drew with England and beat Norway last year, but lost to Japan and twice to Austria. They kicked off 2024 with two strong wins over South Korea and the Czech Republic, so will carry a bit of momentum into qualifying.
What are they like? Despite their up and down form, Portugal will still be heavy favourites to top the group. There is experience the whole way through their team, including record caps holder Ana Borges, Dolores Silva and Carolina Mendes. Having been regular at major tournaments in recent years, the two matches in May should give a good indication from how far away Northern Ireland are from that level.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia-Herzegovina lost to Sweden in the Nations League play-off
World ranking: 63
2023 Nations League: Second in Group B4 (Lost to Sweden 10-0 on agg in promotion play-off)
Form: In the past year, it's safe to say Bosnia-Herzegovina's form has been a bit patchy, with six defeats, three wins and two draws in 11 matches. That was enough to earn a promotion play-off against Sweden, who showed their class over the two legs with a pair of 5-0 victories. Bosnia-Herzegovina are a better side than their ranking suggests, but it's hard to pinpoint exactly where they stand given their inconsistent form.
What are they like? On paper, Northern Ireland will likely battle it out with Bosnia-Herzegovina for second place behind Portugal, so the head-to-head between the sides will be crucial. They have a new manager in the shape of Selver Hodzic, so there could be a few surprises. A number of their players play in the domestic league, but they have a few notable young talents, such as Inter Milan duo Maja Jelcic and Marija Milinkovic, and Juventus defender Gloria Sliskovic.
Malta
Malta are unbeaten in their past 12 matches
World ranking: 87
2023 Nations League: First in Group C1
Form: Malta are the lowest-ranked team in the group but they could be ones to watch. They were unbeaten in their past 12 matches, including five wins out of six in the Nations League as they topped Group C1 in style. It either seems to be a feast or a famine for the Maltese - their current run is very good but prior to that they had only won three of their previous 14 matches.
In saying that, the most recent run came under new manager Manuela Tesse and opposite number Oxtoby will be focusing on their current form and they have scored at least one goal in their last 12 matches, so pose a threat going forward.
What are they like? If you want a bit of a yardstick to Malta's level, they faced Montenegro - Northern Ireland's play-off opponents - in 2023 World Cup qualifying, with both sides winning the away fixture 2-0. Given Northern Ireland defeated Montenegro 3-1 on aggregate, they should still have enough to battle past Malta. The majority of their squad play domestically, but 19-year-old Inter Milan forward Haley Bugeja has 14 goals in just 20 caps so is one to watch. Maria Farrugia could face off against Lewes team-mate Caragh Hamilton, who plays for Northern Ireland.
How the play-offs work?
The majority of teams will earn a play-off, which follows a seeded format depending on what League a country is in.
In League A, the top two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the finals. Easy peasy. Now, this is where things get complicated.
The bottom two teams in each League A group will face the best sides from League C in the initial round of play-offs. At the same time, the top three finishers in each League B group will also be split into play-offs, with the best seven League B sides seeded against the next seven League B sides.
Only the bottom placed side in League B will miss out on a play-off - something Northern Ireland will desperately want to avoid.
The winner of the League A/C play-off will then take on the winner of the League B play-off - and the seven victors from those ties will join hosts Switzerland and the eight automatic qualifiers in the finals.
