After (plenty of) replays, Emma Lipman seems to drag her studs across the ball...perhaps that what has given the impression of Magill's hand knocking the ball?

Northern Ireland will head for tunnel sure they should be one up here.

Northern Ireland have the ball in the net but it's been chalked off for an apparent handball.

Joely Andrews gets in behind and pulls the ball back for Magill who loses her footing on the turn.

She pops back up and pokes the ball into the corner but the referee has ruled it out.

Replays certainly don't show much contact...did the ball brush a fingertip?

Lauren Wade and Demi Vance continuing to link up well down Northern Ireland's left side.

The former swings in another cross but again Malta clear the danger.

Five minutes to go before half-time. Can Northern Ireland fashion a more clear-cut chance before the break?

Image source, Press Eye

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

This has shades of the first leg of Northern Ireland's play-off in Montenegro, where Tanya Oxtoby's side dominated possession but struggled to create too many clear-cut chances.

It's been a similar story tonight, but Northern Ireland are starting to get joy down the left through Demi Vance and Lauren Wade.

Joely Andrews is the next to ask a question of Xuereb, the Glentoran midfielder firing an effort on target from outside the box.

Well struck but Xuereb always had it covered.

The closest we've come to seeing an opener.

Demi Vance swings in a brilliantly teasing ball but Magill is just beaten to it by Malta keeper Janice Xuereb.

Northern Ireland knocking on the door.

Tanya Oxtoby has to be delighted with how comfortable her team have looked on the ball but how long before they test the goalkeeper?

Image source, Getty Images

Simone Magill dropping deeper now to hold up the ball.

The Everton striker does well in the build-up but Caragh Hamilton's loose touch on the edge of the box sees another attack break down before the hosts can get a shot away.

Northern Ireland have really dominated the ball so far, keeping it well and pressing Malta high up the pitch to regain possession on the rare occasions they do lose it.

Still no real chances created, though.

Northern Ireland have started well here, knocking the ball confidently among themselves.

Really patient stuff from them but Malta's central defender Farrugia has dealt with any attempts to swing the ball into the box so far.

And we're underway with Northern Ireland immediately looking to get the ball forward.

The teams are out and the anthems underway.

Kick-off moments away.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

Image source, Press Eye

Tanya Oxtoby's tenure so far has been filled with ups and downs so far, with

I asked Oxtoby about the difference in getting consistency at international level, where she works with her team once a month or so, compared to when she was assistant manager at Chelsea and was in a daily enviornment.

"Yeah it is, it's hard. You get them for 10 days and it's about trying to get them into our way of playing and what we are trying to do as quickly as possible and not waste any time.

"They have all got their own club environments they are working within, so when we get them it is about trying to recalibrate and get them doing the things we would like them to do in the right ways.

"It's a challenge but one I'm really enjoying.

"For us, it is about continuing to progress and challenge the group to make decisions for themselves. That comes with positives, but also areas where they make mistakes.

"A little bit of patience, and consistency in terms of the messaging in what we are asking them to do.

"We certainly done that since I came in and I'm are okay with that. The progression we are seeing as a group is really positive."

Image source, Press Eye

Tanya Oxtoby says her Northern Ireland squad has been dealing with a virus before Friday's opening Euro 2025 qualifier with Malta.

Despite the illness, Oxtoby is hopeful her squad will not be overly impacted and said "we're in a good place".

"We're built to adjust and the theme of the camp has been to pivot," added Australian Oxtoby.

"Malta will be a really tough test for us, they are really dangerous in possession and they have some really dangerous players in terms of their movements.

"It's the first game of a campaign, you are at home so you want to put in a really good performance.

"I'd be really pleased to get the result given the challenges that we've had this week. It will give us a good platform to move forward with."

Image source, Getty Images

Malta are the lowest-ranked team in the group but they could be ones to watch. They were unbeaten in their past 12 matches, including five wins out of six in the Nations League as they topped Group C1 in style.

It either seems to be a feast or a famine for the Maltese - their current run is very good but prior to that they had only won three of their previous 14 matches.

They have scored at least one goal in their last 12 matches, so pose a threat going forward.

If you want a bit of a yardstick to Malta's level, they faced Montenegro - Northern Ireland's play-off opponents - in 2023 World Cup qualifying, with both sides winning the away fixture 2-0. Given Northern Ireland defeated Montenegro 3-1 on aggregate, they will still be favourites to battle past Malta.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI

"When it happened initially I was like 'what am I doing this for?', but I have my answer now."

It may have been a bitterly cold night of pre-season training at Midgley Park, but no-one had a bigger smile on their face than Alex Clarke.

After fracturing both her knee caps, it has been a rollercoaster two years for the 22-year-old as she returns to the pitch.

With the severity of her injuries, which came just 12 months apart, Clarke would have been forgiven for wanting to take things easy.

Read more here

The majority of teams will earn a play-off, which follows a seeded format depending on what League a country is in.

In League A, the top two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the finals. Easy peasy. Now, this is where things get complicated.

The bottom two teams in each League A group will face the best sides from League C in the initial round of play-offs. At the same time, the top three finishers in each League B group will also be split into play-offs, with the best seven League B sides seeded against the next seven League B sides.

Only the bottom placed side in League B will miss out on a play-off - something Northern Ireland will desperately want to avoid.

The winner of the League A/C play-off will then take on the winner of the League B play-off - and the seven victors from those ties will join hosts Switzerland and the eight automatic qualifiers in the finals.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI

Traditionally, Northern Ireland have had centre back after centre back, so it is a bit of a shock to see so many ruled out at once.

With Sarah McFadden and Ellie Mason injured, Kelsie Burrows not in the squad and Rebecca Holloway only on the bench for tonight's game, suddenly things are looking a bit short at the back.

Nadene Caldwell is a safe pair of hands and is experienced enough to step up and fill that void alongside Laura Rafferty, who Tanya Oxtoby spoke very highly off in the pre-match press conference.

It will be an area of concern, but Oxtoby will be hoping it's enough to get the job done this evening.

Northern Ireland

There's a bit of news as Jackie Burns is straight back into the starting team for her first Northern Ireland appearance since the end of 2022.

Marissa Callaghan will captain the side from midfield.

Rebecca Holloway has been struggling with an issue so reliable midfielder Nadene Caldwell looks set to slot in at centre back.

Casey Howe misses out on the match day squad.

Northern Ireland: Burns, McKenna, Rafferty, Caldwell, Vance, McCarron, Andrews, Callaghan (capt), Wade, Hamilton, Magill.

Subs: Perry, Harvey-Clifford, Magee, Dugdale, McLaren, Callaghan, Scofield, McPartlan, Halliday, Wilson.

Malta: Xuereb, Said, Lipman, S Farrugia, Cuschieri, Sultana, M Farrugia, S Zammit, C Zammit, Borg, Bugeja.

Subs: Costantino, Zahra, Theuma, Willis, Flask, Lucia, Mifsud, Xuereb, Carella, Sciberras, Rapa.

Republic of Ireland manager Eileen Gleeson believes her side can earn a shock victory over France in Friday's opening Euro 2025 qualifier in Metz.

France are third in the world rankings, but Gleeson is refusing to accept the notion her 25th-ranked side are no-hopers going into the game.

Asked what would be a good result for her side, Gleeson replied: "To win.

"We are coming here to compete and to try to win the game, affect the game in whatever way we can."

Read more here

Image source, Inpho