Summary

  • Group H: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia (result)

  • Stunning Cerin free-kick gives Slovenia the win

  • Slovenia beat Northern Ireland 4-2 in Ljubljana in September

  • N Ireland sit fifth in group with two wins and six defeats

  • Slovenia lead the group with six wins and a draw from eight games

  • Use audio icon at top of the page to listen to BBC Radio Ulster commentary

  1. The final whistlepublished at 22:16 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    That's all for tonight, folks.

    You can read Mark Sterling's report from Windsor Park here as Northern Ireland suffered their fifth 1-0 defeat of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

    Keep an eye on the BBC Sport website for reaction and don't forget you can watch Match of the Day highlights at 22:40 BST on BBC One NI and BBC iPlayer.

    See you soon, thanks for joining us!

    Jonny EvansImage source, Press Eye
  2. Match of the Day NI - Northern Ireland v Sloveniapublished at 22:14 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    BBC One NI, 22:40, Tuesday, 17 October.

    Watch highlights of Northern Ireland versus Slovenia on BBC One tonight.

    You can also find the programme on the BBC iPlayer

    Match of the Day from Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland v SloveniaImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Match of the Day from Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland v Slovenia

  3. 'A lot of positive sides'published at 22:13 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Michael O'Neill on his youthful squad: "We have had seven, maybe eight Under-21s in the group tonight. That's not because we are discarding other players but we have a lot of unavailability and we lost [Daniel] Ballard and Paddy [McNair] form the team on Saturday - both experienced players for us.

    "We're having to dip into these younger players and hopefully we will get the benefit of that down the line in terms of when we do build a team. Hopefully being involved at international level helps their club careers. Hopefully it raises their club game to a level where they can compete at this level.

    "I think there are a lot of positive signs. The results don't necessarily show that at the minute, I understand that, but in every game I can't remember us being totally out played or totally out of our depth, or anything like that. We have to look at the positives in the situation we are in."

  4. Postpublished at 22:09 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Michael O'Neill on debutants Brad Lyons and Eoin Toal: "I thought they were terrific for their first game and they really acquitted themselves well. They played with real composure and they can be really proud of how they played tonight. I thought all the subs were good when they came on, and I thought Isaac [Price] in particular was great. He is a young player with huge potential. We have used him off the bench in these two games but he is going to be a big player for us going forward."

  5. 'It hurts us'published at 22:06 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill: "I was disappointed in the performance of the referee, first of all. I wouldn't criticise the players because I have been in that situation and I understand that, but you have to learn. The bookings, they hurt you down the line.

    "For us, with the player pool that we have, we need player availability and suspensions and that kind of thing hurts us. Young players get caught up in the emotion. The crowd were brilliant with the team tonight, but they were very vociferous against the referee and sometimes that doesn't always work in your favour."

  6. 'Charles performances are the biggest positive'published at 22:05 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Keith Gillespie
    Former Northern Ireland winger on BBC Radio Ulster

    I think the biggest positive out of the group is obviously Shea Charles. Anybody can get a second yellow but he has been the positive one. Isaac Price has looked lively, as has McMenamin and Jonny has been his usual solid self.

  7. 'A lot went against us'published at 22:03 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill: "Look, there was a lot that went against us in the game. When you lose a goal early with a soft free-kick which the referee has delayed and given, and then we had to play for 35 minutes with 10 men. We created the better chances in the second half, to be honest. Some of our play with 10 men was terrific.

    "We have to learn from these types of games. The emotion in the game cost us a little bit. I thought we got on the wrong side of the officials because of that. Ultimately, we get very little form the officials in the game. That's a learning experience. We have a lot of players without a huge amount of international experience and I think that showed at times, in terms of the bookings we picked up at key moments in the game."

  8. 'We need to up the tempo'published at 22:01 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Warren Feeney
    Former Northern Ireland striker on BBC Radio Ulster

    There is no wrong way to win a football game. I feel for the players at times but they have got to realise we have to go and get something from these games. The group is finished yes but we have to think about getting something. Slovenia were comfortable at keeping the ball. We need to up the tempo. We need to take the game to teams.

  9. 'We didn't do enough'published at 21:57 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Warren Feeney
    Former Northern Ireland striker on BBC Radio Ulster

    We can talk about the referees all night but really, we had to play a British style of football tonight. They're all good players but we needed to get the ball up the pitch and feed off second balls. We can sit here and talk about the refs but we didn't do enough to win the game.

  10. 'We deserved something out of the game'published at 21:57 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Northern Ireland midfielder Brad Lyons: "I think the atmosphere pushes us on as well, but the drive and passion we have in that changing room - it showed out on the pitch when we went down to 10 men. We looked like we had 11 men at times with the chances we created.

    On making his NI debut: "It's a dream come true, and I actually mean that. I had family in the stands watching, my girlfriend was watching as well. To represent your country is the best feeling I've ever felt in my life, but it's a frustrating one at the same time.

    "I thought we played well and deserved something out of the game."

  11. Postpublished at 21:53 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Stay tuned for some reaction from the Northern Ireland camp.

  12. 'They have more quality'published at 21:52 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Keith Gillespie
    Former Northern Ireland winger on BBC Radio Ulster

    The game was over as soon as we went down to ten men but even prior to that we didn't really look like scoring. We actually created more chances when we had 10 men rather that 11. Slovenia were sensible at times when they just kept the ball. They're not that great of a side but that have that little bit more quality that us.

  13. Postpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    A picture says a thousand words...

    George SavilleImage source, Pacemaker
  14. 'Lack of goals tells you everything'published at 21:49 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    We don't have a Sesko and that's the difference. You've got to be able to score goals. We have had five 1-0 losses in this group and that tells you everything.

  15. England book spot at Euro 2024published at 21:48 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Jude Bellingham and Harry KaneImage source, Getty Images

    Elsewhere, England confirmed their qualification for Euro 2024 in Germany next summer after coming from behind to beat Italy at Wembley inspired by another Jude Bellingham masterclass.

    Gareth Southgate's side only needed a point to secure their place and it briefly looked like the celebrations may be delayed when former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca gave Italy the lead from close range after 15 minutes.

    Bellingham was England's talisman once more as the 20-year-old Real Madrid star led the comeback, winning the penalty that brought captain Harry Kane's equaliser.

    Kane scored his 60th goal for his country after Bellingham ran through and was fouled by Giovanni di Lorenzo after 32 minutes.

    And it was Bellingham's surging run and pass that set up Marcus Rashford to cut inside and beat Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma just before the hour before Kane extinguished any hopes of an Italy recovery when he raced clear to score England's third with 13 minutes left.

  16. 'We cause ourselves problems'published at 21:47 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    I don't now where we go from here. I think it's going to be a long time until we challenge again and I hope I am wrong but I just don't see it here. I think the players are too inexperienced, I just don't like the way we play.

    Maybe that's just me being a dinosaur but I think we cause ourselves more problems trying to play out from the back. We're not allowing the crowd to get into the game. Teams used to fear coming to Northern Ireland, not anymore and that is sad.

  17. Postpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    Denmark join Slovenia on 19 points at the top of Group H after a massive scare against minnows San Marino.

    Rasmus Hojlund and Yussuf Poulsen rescued the Danes after Alessandro Golinucci hit a famous equaliser.

    Rasmus HojlundImage source, Getty Images
  18. 'We are so frustrated'published at 21:43 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    It's the same as the away game in Slovenia, one piece of magic and one goal and we just cannot produce that at the minute. It was difficult enough when we had 11 players on the pitch, we weren't making that much of an impression. The sending off meant we had no chance of winning the game but they're top of the group and they are not that good and that is why we are so frustrated.

  19. Postpublished at 21:43 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    While it's another defeat for Northern Ireland, that's a big result for Slovenia, who now top Group H.

    They are currently down applauding the travelling support, who were in fine voice all night.

  20. Postpublished at 21:41 British Summer Time 17 October 2023

    FT: Northern Ireland 0-1 Slovenia

    That's Northern Ireland's fifth 1-0 defeat in this campaign.

    Fine margins but no points.