Summary

  • Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland (result)

  • Northern Ireland have lost seven of their nine qualifiers

  • The Finns have won five and lost four of their nine Group H games

  1. Watch: Match of the Day NI - Finland v Northern Irelandpublished at 19:41 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    BBC One NI & BBC iPlayer

    Highlights of Northern Ireland's penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier are available on Match of the Day Northern Ireland, BBC One NI at 23:10 GMT and the BBC iPlayer

    Watch: Match of the Day NI - Finland v Northern IrelandImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Watch: Match of the Day NI - Finland v Northern Ireland

  2. 'People can question your character'published at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    O'Neill: "I have to recognise the experience that is in this squad.There is no benefit going in and being overly-critical of the players. We'll look at the game back. As staff we will watch it when we go back to the hotel so we have it prepared to watch with the players tomorrow.

    "The only way is to learn from that, to see the margins that are in the game. That's what we'll aim to do between now and turning the team around on Monday. When you have a defeat like that sometimes people can question your character a little bit and we have to make sure our character isn't questioned on Monday night."

  3. Postpublished at 19:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Michael O'Neill: "We became a little bit disjointed in the second half. We have to chase it a little bit but we are conscious that you are making yourself a little bit weaker as well. That's the nature of it. I didn't want to just see the game out at 2-0, I wanted to see if we could find a way back in. The third goal is poor again defensively. More missed challenges, not just inexperienced players but experienced players as well.

    "We have to do better on the third goal. It's a great finish from Pukki. The fourth goal, we had thrown a few of the younger players on at that point in time and it's borderline whether it's onside or offside, but we became stretched.

    "When the game is at 0-0 we are nice and compact and we have a good shape about us.We frustrated Finland and we had our own ways to attack."

  4. Postpublished at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Michael O'Neill: "We said to the players to make sure we stay in the game and the second goal is poor. We missed three of four tackles and the goalkeeper has to do better as well for the shot.

    "Ultimately you are trying to chase the game and it's very difficult from there."

  5. 'A disappointing result'published at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill: "I've had tougher but it was a disappointing result. I tough we did well for 40 minutes and there was very little in the game, and by 48 minutes we were out of the game.

    "It just shows you the nature of it. The penalty just before half-time, suddenly you are going in 1-0 down having played well up until that point to contain Finland, and I thought we carried a threat as well."

  6. Postpublished at 19:25 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    I know we said we'll have reaction soon. It is coming, I promise.

    Michael O'NeillImage source, Press Eye
  7. 'It's not been an easy start for Michael'published at 19:17 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Michael O'Connor
    Former Northern Ireland international on BBC Radio Ulster

    You're missing [Jonny] Evans and [Steven] Davis, they're your organisers and they're your coaches on the pitch. Without them two it's not been an easy start for Michael, it's been really tough.

  8. Postpublished at 19:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Michael O'Connor
    Former Northern Ireland international on BBC Radio Ulster

    A tough one for Michael to pick those boys up, they're still young and they're still learning and that's a big defeat.

    A 4-0 defeat is a hard one to get over and they have to get over it really quick to go again on Monday against Denmark.

  9. 'Surprised Conor McMenamin didn't get a chance'published at 19:12 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Warren Feeney
    Former Northern Ireland striker on BBC Radio Ulster

    I'm a bit surprised Conor McMenamin didn't get a chance tonight, I'm being honest. I think Conor brings energy, whether he's looking at it for Monday night.

  10. Postpublished at 19:06 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    We'll bring you some reaction from Helsinki shortly.

    Players dejectedImage source, Press Eye
  11. 'They're going into things half-hearted'published at 19:06 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Warren Feeney
    Former Northern Ireland striker on BBC Radio Ulster

    In the second half, it just wasn't Northern Ireland at all.

    You know as players we've been in these games. But the one thing that worries me is we always went down with a fight, at this moment of time, I'm just not seeing it with the players.

    It looks to me they're going into things half-hearted, there's an acceptance there and it's not a great thing to have, at the end of the day you're representing your country.

  12. Postpublished at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Despite the result, the Northern Ireland fans are still singing away in the background.

    Fair play to those who made the trip to Finland.

  13. Goals 'preventable'published at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Warren Feeney
    Former Northern Ireland striker on BBC Radio Ulster

    The goals, Michael will look back on, they are all very preventable.

    Finland celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  14. 'They have lost all their experience'published at 18:58 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

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

    You can't fault them for effort, you can never fault a Northern Ireland side for effort.

    They have lost all their experience, all the experienced players are gone at the minute.

    You look at the back four you have Ballard, Hume and Toal, they are inexperienced players.

    Michael will be disappointed with the first two goals as I think they could have been stopped, but once you give them two goals the game is over.

  15. Postpublished at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    That was so good from Finland there is a fella with his top off in the crowd.

    It's -5 in Helsinki.

  16. Postpublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    I think I speak for everyone when I say thank goodness there is only one game left in this campaign.

    One to forget.

  17. FULL-TIMEpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    It's all over in Helsinki.

    Result: Finland 4-0 Northern IrelandImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Result: Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

  18. Postpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

    Finland are playing keep ball in the final few seconds.

  19. 'Great goal'published at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland

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

    It was a great goal. We saw what Pukki can do, it was a beautiful pass and it was put on a plate for him and all he had to do was lift it over the keeper.