Northern Ireland Men's Football Team

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Stockholm

Image source, Inpho

Paddy McNair says there are "lessons to be learned" from a "tough night" in Sweden as Northern Ireland fell to a 5-1 defeat on Tuesday.

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak scored and assisted in Stockholm, while Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren, Ken Sema and Anthony Elanga were also on target.

Isaac Price scored a late consolation, but Northern Ireland fell to just a third defeat in 12 matches as Sweden showed their clinical edge.

"We're disappointed but it's a hard one," said San Diego defender McNair.

"They deserved to win but I felt 5-1 was a bit harsh.

"We have to learn from that and move forward because there are still six months to the World Cup qualifiers, so we can iron out the mistakes and get it right for then."

'You are going to have nights like this'

Manager Michael O'Neill had warned that his side - also missing a number of key players such as Conor Bradley, Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard - could face difficult nights as he gears up for the start of World Cup qualifying with a series of friendlies with top-tier nations.

That proved to be the case in Stockholm as Sweden, who lost to Luxembourg on Saturday, responded with a big win in front of a home crowd.

"They are a good side obviously and took their chances," added McNair.

"I think they had six on target and scored five of them so they were clinical and it was disappointing for us.

"When you are young players you are going to have nights like this, and you have to learn from them and take the small positives from it."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Stockholm

Image source, Press Eye

Shea Charles believes Northern Ireland have to use Tuesday's 5-1 friendly defeat in Sweden as motivation for their World Cup qualifiers.

The loss in Stockholm was just a third in Northern Ireland's past 12 matches as Alexander Isak spearheaded a wounded Sweden, who lost on Saturday in Luxembourg, to a big win.

Michael O'Neill's side will face two more friendlies, away to Denmark and at home to Iceland, before their opening World Cup qualifiers in Luxembourg and Germany.

"Definitely. It's almost like a look into the future of what we will come up against," said Charles when asked if the defeat would fuel their qualifying campaign.

"I know Germany are one of the best teams in the world but it's a game of football and anything can happen.

"I think we are good enough to compete against these sorts of teams."

'They finished their chances, we didn't'

While it may be a strange statement to say after a 5-1 defeat, Northern Ireland showed in Friday's draw against Switzerland that they can match sides who are regulars at major tournaments.

O'Neill's team have also impressed against the likes of Scotland and Romania in the past 12 months, but the game in Sweden was a harsh lesson.

Charles, who captained the side at 21, is confident it will not leave any lasting impact on a young panel who had been on an upward trajectory.

"I don't think it was a 5-1 game, which is always hard to look at when it is that score," he said.

"They finished their chances, unlike us. I feel that we had similar chances."

Northern Ireland were without three first-choice defenders in Conor Bradley, Trai Hume and Dan Ballard, while Eoin Toal also likely would have featured if fit.

"We should have been a bit more compact, but we didn't and it ended up being five," added Charles.

"That's what that's what happens when you do make mistakes against players of that quality."

Image source, Getty Images

Sweden's Anthony Elanga said Northern Ireland are a "really good young team" and praised goalkeeper Pierce Charles, despite dominating Michael O'Neill's young side in the Stockholm friendly.

Nottingham Forest striker Elanga was on the scoresheet in Sweden's 5-1 win on Tuesday night, but thinks the beaten visitors are heading in the right direction under O'Neill.

"I've been watching Northern Ireland and I think they're really good, they've got a really good manager.

"You've got a really good, young team that play football, play good football. I really enjoy watching you guys play."

Elanga knows a number of O'Neill's squad and believes 19-year-old goalkeeper Charles, who won his sixth cap at the Strawberry Arena, is an "amazing" prospect.

"I know a few of the players, Ethan Galbraith who I played with at [Manchester] United, the Charles brothers [who were products of the Manchester City youth system].

"He [Pierce] is an amazing goalkeeper by the way, he's got a bright future."

Sweden's victory came without Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski and Sporting Lisbon striker Victor Gyokeres.

Elanga said he was "not at all" frustrated to start the game on the bench, especially with Nottingham Forest's FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton on Saturday.

"Coming on, I wanted to make an impact and score and that's what I did.

"It's important to stay fit and healthy because I've got a lot of games coming up for Nottingham Forest."

Image source, Inpho

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said he had to avoid the team becoming "very disjointed" after not bringing Ross County striker Ronan Hale off the bench in his side's 5-1 friendly loss to Sweden on Tuesday night.

The former Cliftonville man was the subject of a lengthy international transfer after previously representing Republic of Ireland at youth level and was included in O'Neill's squad for the first time this month.

But the 26-year-old was an unused substitute in friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden with O'Neill saying he did not want to bring him on "slightly out of position" in the latter stages with the team already 5-0 behind.

"It's very difficult in that situation," he said.

"You can throw on another player and play him slightly out of position, but at that time we're trailing in the game 5-0.

"I have to protect the morale of the team a little bit, the team can get very disjointed at that point in time."

O'Neill added that Hale will have benefitted from the experience of being away with the squad for the first time.

He said: "Those players will get their chances.

"They will go back to their clubs, they have to get minutes and do well.

"This is Ronan's first trip, he will understand what we want from him from what he's seen in training."

Image source, Inpho

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said his side "need to defend better" after a 5-1 friendly defeat by Sweden in Stockholm.

Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak scored a superb fourth for the hosts on Tuesday, having also created their opener.

While Isaac Price did find the net for Northern Ireland late on, O'Neill felt the scoreline was "a little harsh" on his side.

"They had some great moments, some great goals - Isak's in particular," said O'Neill.

"We need to defend better. As a back three we didn't defend great, as a back five we didn't defend great in terms of our decision-making."

Sweden led 2-0 at half-time courtesy of their only two shots on target in the opening 45 minutes, while McConville missed a great chance for the visitors with a header just before the break.

"I didn't think in the first half there was a lot in it. They had two shots and scored two goals," O'Neill said.

"We've two shots, the keeper makes a save and the other misses the target.

"It wasn't as if we were relying on our keeper to make a load of saves or anything like that."

'We're missing players that will make a difference'

O'Neill said he had taken the friendly against Sweden to "expose the players" to a higher level than they faced in Nations League C during the autumn, but felt that injuries cost his side at the Strawberry Arena.

Northern Ireland were without Liverpool's Conor Bradley and Sunderland duo Trai Hume and Dan Ballard in defence.

Midfielder Ali McCann and striker Dion Charles were also absent through injury.

"We're missing players that will make a difference to the team, probably five or six players, potentially starting players," O'Neill added.

Northern Ireland are next in action with a pair of June friendlies against Denmark away and Iceland at home.

Image source, Inpho

Jamie Donley will make his full international debut for Northern Ireland after being named in the starting eleven to face Sweden.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward, who is on-loan at Leyton Orient, came on in the 58th minute of Friday's 1-1 draw with Switzerland in debut for his first senior appearance for his country.

Terry Devlin joins Donley in making his first start for Northern Ireland with Justin Devenny also selected by Michael O'Neill.

In total, O'Neill makes four changes from the side that started the draw with the Swiss.

Trae Hume and Ethan Galbraith are out injured with Paul Smyth and Lee Bonis dropping to the bench.

For Sweden, in-form Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak starts.

Manchester United's Victor Lindelof comes into the starting eleven as one of seven changes made by manager Jon Dahl Tomasson after their recent defeat to Luxembourg.

Full line-ups:

Sweden: Jhansson, Lindelof, Hien, Gudmundsson, Holm, Ayari, Saletros, Nanasi, Sema, Nygren, Isak.

Subs: Olsen, Dovin, Ekdal, Dahl, Widell, Lagerbielke, Eliasson, Elanga, Starfelt, Karlstrom, Nilsson, Zeneli.

Northern Ireland: P. Charles, Devlin, McNair, McConville, Brown, Spencer, Saville, S. Charles, Devenny, Donley,Price.

Subs: Hazard, Southwood, Donnelly, Marshall, Bonis, Smyth, Lyons, Thomspon, Taylor, Hale, McCausland, Balmer.

Image source, BBC Sport

After their 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Friday night in Belfast, Michael O'Neill's side is in Stockholm to face Sweden tonight.

Here's all you need to know to follow the match across BBC Northern Ireland

Where can I watch it?

We'll be live on BBC Two NI and BBC iPlayer from 17:45 GMT with text build-up starting on the BBC Sport website from 17:00 GMT.

Coverage will end on BBC Two NI at 20:15 GMT but we'll have more analysis and interviews on the iPlayer and BBC Sport website so if you are watching on TV, don't forget to switch over!

If you can't get to a screen then don't worry, you can listen on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Foyle or BBC Sounds from 17:50 GMT too.

Who are the pundits?

Once again, we've got well over 200 international caps between our team of experts on duty to analyse the game.

Joining Stephen Watson in our Belfast studio will be men's record international goal-scorer David Healy, former NI midfielder Jim Magilton and the recently retired former women's captain Marissa Callaghan.

Out in Stockholm, Stephen Craigan will join Thomas Kane in the commentary box with Gavin Andrews pitchside to get all the reaction.

Our radio coverage will be hosted by Joel Taggart alongside former internationals Keith Gillespie and George McCartney with Michael Clarke on commentary duties with John O'Neill.

What's the latest team news?

The big news from Friday's game is that Sunderland's Trai Hume will miss the game with a hip injury.

Midfielder Ethan Galbraith sat out of training on Monday with O'Neill describing his absence as a precaution.

Shea Charles will captain the side at the Strawberry Arena, which will be the third time the Sheffield Wednesday midfielder has led his country.

For the hosts, Newcastle's in-form striker Alexander Isak is expected to start as is Nottingham Forest's Antony Elanga.

Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof is likely to return to the starting eleven after missing the defeat to Luxembourg but Viktor Gyokeres and Dejan Kulusevski are not in the squad.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Stockholm

Image source, Getty Images

International Friendly: Sweden v Northern Ireland

Venue: Strawberry Arena, Stockholm Date: Tuesday, 25 March Kick-off: 18:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI, listen on BBC Sounds and live text commentary & in-play clips on the BBC Sport website

Jon Dahl Tomasson says he expects a response from Sweden against Northern Ireland after Saturday's surprise defeat in Luxembourg.

Seid Korac hit a first-half winner as Sweden were shocked by the side who will be in Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying group in September.

Led by Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak and Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga, Sweden will be a stern test for Northern Ireland, who drew 1-1 with Switzerland on Friday, despite their result in Luxembourg.

"It was a very disappointing performance," said Tomasson, who became Sweden manager in February 2024 after leaving Blackburn Rovers.

"I couldn't recognise my team in Luxembourg.

"Now we are playing Northern Ireland, who are a really good team. They won their Nations League group, like we did, and they are on a good run."

Tomasson says that Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland "are a solid team" and he expects a good game in Stockholm, which will be live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI. from 17:45 GMT.

"I have to admit I like it when I see the team play," the former Newcastle United and Denmark striker added.

"They are a difficult team to play against. Every game is important, so we will look forward to it."

Image source, Getty

Defender Trai Hume will miss Northern Ireland's friendly against Sweden in Stockholm on Tuesday with a hip injury.

The Sunderland man won his 20th cap in the 1-1 draw against Switzerland on Friday night but Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said the 23-year-old has been dealing with a hip issue that was "sore" after the game.

"He'd not really been training with Sunderland, just playing games and getting through games," said O'Neill.

"He felt quite sore after the game on Friday and we thought rather than put him through that again it was better to send him back to the club and have that investigated."

Sunderland are fourth in the Championship, 11 points behind leaders Leeds United.

Northern Ireland's next games after Tuesday are friendlies with Denmark and Iceland in June.

ONeill added: "It's not something that we want, or Sunderland want, to drag on.

"They've got a lot to play for and we would not want him to come here and subsequently miss the games in June either."

Northern Ireland's only other injury doubt after the Switzerland draw is midfielder Ethan Galbraith who sat out training on Monday.

O'Neill said the Leyton Orient man's absence at the Strawberry Arena was a "precaution".

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Shea Charles will captain the side for the third time in the game having previously worn the armband in Nations League games against Belarus and Luxembourg in November.

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill says his side must "embrace the challenge" of being drawn against Germany in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Germany's 5-4 aggregate victory over Italy in the Nations League quarter-finals last week confirmed that Northern Ireland's campaign to reach next summer's tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada will pit them against the four-time champions, as well as Luxembourg and Slovakia.

"It'll be a tough, tough challenge," O'Neill told BBC Sport in Stockholm, where his side face Sweden in a friendly on Tuesday evening (18:00 GMT).

"You're probably wanting to avoid Germany but we have to embrace the challenge.

"A group with ourselves, Slovakia, Luxembourg and now Germany at the top of that, will provide the stiffest of tests for us."

Northern Ireland have lost their past eight competitive games against Germany, including five during O'Neill's first spell in charge of the team between 2011 and 2020.

"It's as tough as we could get, let's be honest," he added.

"We've played them in my previous reign. We had five games against them and we never managed to take anything.

"I think in a lot of those games we gave a good account of ourselves."

O'Neill confirms Denmark trip

After drawing with Switzerland on Tuesday, Northern Ireland have three remaining friendly fixtures before that qualifying campaign begins with a trip to Luxembourg on 4 September.

Nations League results over the weekend also confirmed their June schedule with an away game in Denmark now to be played in addition to hosting Iceland on 10 June.

"We'll have had a real Scandinavian flavour between March and June," O'Neill said.

"Again, a good test. We played them recently in [qualifying for] Euro 2024 and it's good exposure for the team.

"We're testing ourselves, we're not taking easy games and we'll hopefully see the benefit of that in September."

Image source, Getty Images

International Friendly: Sweden v Northern Ireland

Venue: Strawberry Arena, Stockholm Date: Tuesday, 25 March Kick-off: 18:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI, listen on BBC Sounds and live text commentary & in-play clips on the BBC Sport website

Northern Ireland defender Brodie Spencer says he is looking forward to testing himself "against the best" when they take on Sweden in Tuesday's friendly.

Michael O'Neill's young side drew with Switzerland on Friday as their positive run of form continued.

After topping their Nations League group, Northern Ireland have now lost just two of their past 11 matches.

While Sporting striker Victor Gyokeres is expected to be out, Newcastle forward Alexander Isak is in a strong Swedish squad for the game in Stockholm.

"You want to play against the best, to test yourself and see where that puts you," Spencer said on playing top-tier opponents.

"Being a young defender, to have that challenge so early in my career would be amazing."

After Isaac Price's superb opener was cancelled out by Vincent Sierro, the 20-year-old said Northern Ireland were "happy" with a draw against Switzerland but "we could have got a bit more out of the game".

With Isak and Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga leading the line, Sweden suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by Luxembourg on Friday.

Spencer believes the friendly, which will be the latest in preparation for the start of 2026 World Cup qualifying in September, will be "quite similar" to facing the Swiss.

"It will be a tough game and a game full of concentration," said the Huddersfield Town right-back.

"It will be a game full of important moments, and hopefully we can go out and put on a good performance again.

"We knew we had to try and kick on from the Nations League. Being able to top the group was a great experience for us all."

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland will take on Germany in World Cup qualifying Group A after Julian Nagelsmann's side beat Italy in the Nations League play-offs.

Germany led 2-1 after the first leg in the San Siro and raced into a 3-0 advantage in the second leg at Signal Iduna Park.

Italy fought back to level the game at 3-3 on the night, but it wasn't enough as Germany progressed 5-4 on aggregate to reach the semi-finals.

They will now be top seeds in Group A of the World Cup qualifiers, which start in September as it is a four-team group.

Germany were Northern Ireland's opposition in the Euro 2020 qualifiers with the Germans triumphing 2-0 in Belfast before going on to earn a thumping 6-1 victory in Frankfurt.

Michael O'Neill's side will be away against Germany on Sunday, 7 September and the return encounter in Belfast on Monday, 13 October.

Meanwhile, Portugal will be in Republic of Ireland's group after overcoming Denmark 5-3 on aggregate in their play-offs quarter-final.

Portugal will host the Irish in Group F on 11 October with the return match in Dublin on 13 November.

Only group winners will secure automatic spots in the USA, Canada and Mexico with the 12 runners-up going through to play-offs, where four qualifying berths will be available.