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. Stat attackpublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland v Northern Ireland (17:00 GMT)

    Here are some stats on Northern Ireland's campaign.

    Northern Ireland’s six defeats in EURO 2024 qualifying is their most losses in a single World Cup/European Championship qualifying campaign in their history.

    Dion Charles is the only Northern Ireland player to score more than once in this European Championship campaign so far, with both of his strikes coming against San Marino in a 2-0 win in March.

    Northern Ireland have won just one of their four away matches against Finland (D1 L2), a 2-1 victory in August 2006 in a friendly with goals from Kyle Lafferty and David Healy.

  2. Charles and Marshall offer ray of hope in goal searchpublished at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland v Northern Ireland (17:00 GMT)

    Dion Charles and Callum MarshallImage source, Press Eye

    Scoring goals. It is said to be the most difficult thing in football, and it has certainly been a major problem for Northern Ireland for some time.

    How to get the team scoring more goals would no doubt have been high in Michael O'Neill's in-tray when he returned to manage his country for a second spell in December. Indeed, it was one of the first questions put to him upon his appointment.

    Almost a year on, and the issue remains unresolved. Apart from five goals across two wins over San Marino - the world's lowest-ranked team - Northern Ireland have scored two goals in their other six Euro 2024 qualifying games.

    They both came in a chaotic 4-2 defeat in Slovenia, with O'Neill's men losing the other five matches 1-0. Chances have been created in all of those games, making the team's inability to find the back of the net on a regular basis all the more frustrating.

    Read more here.

  3. Ballard relishing added responsibility in young NI squadpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland v Northern Ireland (17:00 GMT)

    Dan BallardImage source, Press Eye

    Dan Ballard feels he is ready to take on added responsibility in a Northern Ireland squad that is missing experienced defenders.

    The Sunderland centre-half, 24, will likely play in a defence missing Jonny Evans through injury and the recently-retired Craig Cathcart.

    Ballard has won 20 international caps after making his debut three years ago.

    "Yes, potentially," he said when asked if he needs to step up with Evans and Cathcart missing.

    "We've got some great young centre-halves so there's always going to be good competition there.

    "But, yes, missing those two players speaks for itself. They probably have nearly 200 caps between them, so that's a lot of experience missing.

    "It's down to us to step up and fill the void they have left."

  4. Not the party Finland were expectingpublished at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland v Northern Ireland (17:00 GMT)

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at the Olympic Stadium

    The very personable media officer from the Finnish FA was telling us at yesterday's press conference that there was a rush to buy tickets for this match after Finland made such a fly start to this campaign.

    With the side having won all of their first four Euro 2024 qualifying games, it seemed that tonight could have been the night when they sealed their place at next summer's finals.

    A huge drop in form means qualification from the group is no longer possible, but they are still expecting a crowd of 30,000 at the game, which is just 2,000 off capacity.

    This ground hosted the 1952 Olympic Games, of course, but it has been revamped since then.

    Olympic Stadium, HelsinkiImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Olympic Stadium, Helsinki

  5. How things standpublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland v Northern Ireland (17:00 GMT)

    It's not pretty reading, if we're being honest.

    Group H
  6. Last time outpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland v Northern Ireland (17:00 GMT)

    Benjamin Kaalman celebratesImage source, Press Eye

    These two last faced off in March and it was Finland who ran out winners at Windsor Park.

    Northern Ireland were left to rue missed chances and a disallowed goal as Finland delivered an early blow to their Euro 2024 qualification hopes with victory in Belfast.

    A scrappy first-half goal from Benjamin Kallman gave the visitors their first Group H points.

    Dion Charles' close-range finish early in the second half was disallowed for handball soon after substitute Josh Magennis had blazed over.

  7. Heipublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Finland v Northern Ireland (17:00 GMT)

    Another international window is upon us and Northern Ireland are looking to end their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign on a high.

    Any hopes of reaching the finals next summer are long gone, and injuries have absolutely decimated the squad.

    Let's try and be positive though and hope Michael O'Neill's men can get a confidence-building win over Finland in Helsinki.

    You can follow all the action here.

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