Northern Ireland Women’s squad unchanged in Euro play-off bid | OneFootball

Northern Ireland score against Portugal. (Photo: Ephy McConnell)

Tanya Oxtoby retains the same 23 players in the Northern Ireland squad who faced Portugal in May and June, for this month’s Euro qualifiers.

Cliftonville midfielder Louise McDaniel, who was a late call-up to the squad in May, replacing injured Rangers midfielder Megan Bell, has kept her place.

Bell, London City Lionesses midfielder Connie Scofield and Birmingham City defender/midfielder Ellie Mason are all still unavailable due to injury.

Northern Ireland’s campaign in the league phase of qualifiers for UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 will draw to a close when they take on Malta away in Ta’Qali on Friday 12 July and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Windsor Park on Tuesday 16 July.

Oxtoby’s team currently sit third in League B Group 3, aiming to finish in second or third which will guarantee play-offs for places at next year’s Euros in Switzerland. A win against Malta on 12 July would see Northern Ireland advance to the play-offs phase of the qualifiers.

Oxtoby told irishfa.com she felt the squad had done “exceptionally well” in the last international window, especially in the narrow 2-1 defeat to Portugal at Mourneview Park in early June. She said her squad selection this time around reflected that.

“We are keen to keep the momentum going and obviously this group (of players) is really together and looking forward to the next challenge,” she added.

Northern Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (Reading), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Lauren Perry (Montrose).

Defenders: Rebecca Holloway and Rebecca McKenna (both Birmingham City), Laura Rafferty (Rangers), Demi Vance (Glentoran), Rachel Dugdale (Reading), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville).

Midfielders: Joely Andrews, Nadene Caldwell and Chloe McCarron (all Glentoran), Marissa Callaghan and Louise McDaniel (both Cliftonville), Brenna McPartlan (Burnley).

Forwards: Kerry Beattie and Emily Wilson (both Glentoran), Simone Magill (unattached), Lauren Wade (Reading), Keri Halliday (Linfield), Casey Howe (Athlone Town), Caragh Hamilton (unattached), Danielle Maxwell (Cliftonville).

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