Nations League: Northern Ireland v Greece - radio and live text commentary

Summary

Northern Ireland begin Nations League campaign with loss to Greece
Hosts yet to win a Nations League match since tournament's introduction

Live Reporting

Andy Gray

Final whistlepublished at 22:14 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
That's all for now, however the beauty of the Nations League means we will see you again on Sunday when Northern Ireland will be looking to bounce back against Cyprus.
Can Northern Ireland finally end their Nations League hoodoo? Time will tell!
For now you can read Mark Sterling's report from Windsor Park and don't forget highlights are available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI from 22:30 BST.
See you later!
Image source, Press Eye
Postpublished at 22:11 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Quote Message
We're very disappointed. When you start any Nations League campaign you want to get off to a good start, especially at home. Disappointed for the fans and all-in-all we weren't at our best and we didn't test their keeper enough. We know when we come up against good opposition we might not create that many opportunities, but when you do so you have to try and take them. We are disappointed but the good thing in football is that we have the chance to rectify that on Sunday and have three important games coming up in the space of seven on eight days.
Niall McGinn, Northern Ireland winger
Postpublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Quote Message
We were a bit timid and within ourselves in the first half. In the second half we showed a bit more intensity we showed more bravery to get forward and give them problems. We changed our shape which made a difference and the impact you look from subs - it happened. It's frustrating because we couldn't get the ball away and our first touch was off a little bit and the first half was a training game or the first game of a pre-season.
Ian Baraclough, Northern Ireland manager
Postpublished at 22:03 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
That's now ELEVEN Nations League games without a victory for Northern Ireland.
It's also one win in eleven games at Windsor Park for Ian Baraclough.
Image source, PressEye
Postpublished at 21:57 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Stay tuned for some reaction from the Northern Ireland camp...
Postpublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Next up for Northern Ireland is a trip to Cyprus on Sunday which is surely a must-win if they are to challenge Greece for top spot.
There's another away game in Kosovo next Thursday and Ian Baraclough's men will have to pick themselves up to go again.
Kosovo beat Cyprus 2-0 in their opener earlier on Thursday.
Postpublished at 21:52 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
If you can bare it, there will be highlights from tonight's game at Windsor Park.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Match of the Day Northern Ireland
Postpublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Tommy Wright
Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper on Radio Ulster
We looked better when we went 4-3-3 with Gavin Whyte on the right. We made a change where we put a centre forward [Dion Charles] on the right and he looked lost, really, and that's not his fault. Just match teams around us up and have a go, particularly at home.
Elsewhere in Europepublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Image source, Reuters
All over in the evening's other Nations League games.
Spain and Portugal drew for the fifth time in a row. It's been almost 10 years since either side won that fixture.
Dejan Kulusevski scored a late second as Sweden won 2-0 in Slovenia.
Shon Weissman's equaliser rescued a point for Israel in their 2-2 draw with Iceland.
The Czech Republic beat Switzerland 2-1 and Norway won 1-0 in Serbia thanks to Erling Haaland's goal.
Postpublished at 21:47 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Iain Dowie
Former Northern Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
It's becoming a worrying trend [Northern Ireland's lack of a goal at Windsor Park]. We have talked about the lack of creativity, it was a bit better in the second half but I don't really remember if Odisseas Vlachodimosa had a save to make. Ian Baraclough is now under pressure, the team is under pressure. We were very flat-footed.
'A missed opportunity'published at 21:43 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster
We can make excuses, it's an awful time of season but the Greeks have been through a long campaign too. It's just not happening for us in the Nations League, and that is a great win for Greece and that sets them up to win the group. It will be difficult to go there and turn it around. This was our chance to put a marker down and we didn't take it.
FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:39 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
There goes the final whistle! Northern Ireland's wait for a Nations League win goes on!
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Full Time: Northern Ireland 0 - 1 Greece
Postpublished at 21:39 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Greece have a free-kick deep in the Northern Ireland half and that should be that!
Postpublished at 21:37 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
The green shirts are flooding forward in a bid for an equaliser but time is running out!
Postpublished at 21:36 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster
Northern Ireland have been on top in the second half but have struggled to create many chances.
SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 21:35 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Sheffield United's George Baldock (yes, really) is about to come on for his Greece debut.
He qualifies through his grandmother, and he's on for the final few minutes in place of Lazaros Rota.
Postpublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Five minutes of injury time!
Postpublished at 21:33 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
Play is stopped as Konstantinos Mavropanos is down and holding his ankle.
Northern Ireland are furious and NI assistant Jimmy Nicholl, of all people, is booked for protesting too far.
That's probably his first yellow card for Northern Ireland in about 40 years!
Postpublished at 21:30 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece
As things stand, with five minutes to go, Northern Ireland's wait for a Nations League win looks set to go on.
Image source, Getty Images
Elsewhere in Europepublished at 21:28 British Summer Time 2 June 2022
Portugal's Ricardo Horta is winning his first cap in seven years... and he has just scored to make it 1-1 against Spain.
The 27-year-old Braga player tucks home Joao Cancelo's cross for his first international goal.