Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby says that defender Laura Rafferty has been "integral" to their continued development as she closes in on 50 caps.

Rangers defender Rafferty will reach the milestone if she features in the first leg of their opening Euro 2025 play-off round with Croatia on Friday night.

And Oxtoby heaped praise on the 28-year-old, who has also captained her country on numerous occasions recently.

"I always say about Raff, you know exactly what you're going to get, she's fully committed, gives 100% to the group and as a coach that is all you can ask for," Oxtoby told BBC Sport NI.

"She has been really integral to things we have been doing and I'm really excited if she gets her 50th [cap] tomorrow night."

Despite Magill being named permanent captain, Rafferty will wear the armband on her 50th appearace.

Kyra Carusa does well to hold off her marker before firing a strike towards goal which Tatia Gabunia gets down low to gather.

Gabunia has certainly had a busy start to the match!

Goalkeeper Tatia Gabunia is in action again. This time she palms Katie McCabe's corner over the crossbar with the away side unable to take advantage of the second corner.

Image source, Getty Images

Kyra Carusa chests Katie McCabe's delivery down for Denise O'Sullivan, whose shot is well gathered by Tatia Gabunia.

That was a good save from the Georgia stopper.

Image source, Press Eye

Tanya Oxtoby also believes that new captain Simone Magill "epitomises" qualities she wants in an on-field leader.

Magill was appointed Northern Ireland captain on Monday, succeeding midfielder Marissa Callaghan, who stepped back from the role in May.

"When we looked at the traits and qualities, we wanted in our leadership team Simone epitomises that.

"We went through a really diligent process and the players were a part of that, no matter who wears the armband we have a great bunch of leaders in this group and we're continuing to develop them."

Aoife Mannion quickly clears the corner, to the frustration of the boisterous home fans.

Georgia now have their first corner of the game.

In the last few minutes they have started to push forward.

Georgia are awarded a free-kick 20-yards out after Lily Agg was penalised for a foul on Irina Khaburdzania.

Maiko Bebia's delivery does make Grace Moloney make her first save of the game, albeit a comfortable one.

Georgia manager Iris Antman will be happy with how her side has started this game as they have dealt with all the danger so far.

However, as expected, it has been a dominant display from the Republic of Ireland in the opening 15 minutes.

Image source, Press Eye

Striker Simone Magill has been named the new captain of Northern Ireland before the Euro 2025 play-off with Croatia.

Magill succeeds midfielder Marissa Callaghan, who stepped back as captain in May.

The 29-year-old has won 85 caps and scored 25 goals.

Only record goalscorer Rachel Furness has netted more times for Northern Ireland than Magill, who made her debut as a 15-year-old in 2010.

Magill was key as Northern Ireland qualified for the Euro 2022 finals, but cruelly picked up a knee injury in their opening match with Norway.

She spent most of the first of her two seasons at Aston Villa recovering and signed for Birmingham City in the summer window.

Midfielder Callaghan, who was not included in the squad by manager Tanya Oxtoby, stepped back from her long-term role as captain in May - stating it was the "best decision" for the squad.

Defender Laura Rafferty had been handed the armband by Oxtoby on a regular basis but the Australian has now settled on Magill as her permanent skipper.

Guantsa Kadagishvil is the first to be cautioned this evening for a foul on Julie Ann-Russell.

Maiko Bebia gains possession off Aoife Mannion in midfield and travels towards the box, but the last players back for the Republic of Ireland deal with the danger.

Northern Ireland

Tanya Oxtoby has made three changes for tonight's game with Croatia.

Simone Magill comes back into the team as the lone striker in place of Kerry Beattie, who is injured for this camp.

Lauren Wade comes into the team on the wing and Connie Scofield makes her first international start.

Joely Andrews will miss the first leg through illness, and Casey Howe drops to the bench.

Magill was announced as captain on Oxtoby but will hand over the armband to Laura Rafferty on her 50th cap.

Northern Ireland: Burns, McKenna, Rafferty (capt), Dugdale, Holloway, McPartlan, Halliday, Scofield, Wade, Maxwell, Magill.

Subs: Norney, Harvey-Clifford, Bell, McCarron, Burrows, Mason, McDaniel, Wilson, McLaren, Johnson, Howe.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI in Varazdin

The game tonight takes place in the small Croatian city of Varazdin, home to a pretty impressive castle.

The stadion Varteks has a capacity of 8,000 and is the home of the men's team NK Varteks, who play in the third tier in Croatia.

Katie McCabe's left footed delivery causes a scramble in the box with the danger eventually falling to Abbie Larkin.

However, the right wingback can't test Tatia Gabunia with her resulting strike.

Aoife Mannion plays the ball back into the path of Denise O'Sullivan, who takes a touch before curling a strike narrowly wide of the left hand post.

The Republic of Ireland have been pushing for a goal since the first whistle.

Kyra Carusa gets the action underway.

When these sides met during the 2023 World Cup qualifiers the Republic of Ireland won 20-0 on aggregate. Will Eileen Gleeson's side be the comfortable victors tonight?

Here's the route that Northern Ireland will face if they want to qualify for back-to-back Euros.

Image source, Press Eye

We're approaching kick-off here in Tbilisi but first, anthem time.

Here's how the Republic of Ireland can qualify for a first-ever Euro finals next summer.

Image source, Inpho