Northern Ireland will begin their first major tournament in the women’s game with a tough first test against Norway this week.
Kenny Shiels’ women are the only side placed outside the top 30 in Euro 2022 and are the lowest-ranked down at 47th in the world.
Northern Ireland, who qualified via the play-offs, have been drawn in the formidable Group A alongside Norway, Austria and hosts England.
The Green and White Army, who are making their senior women’s finals debut, are not in good form going into the tournament having gone their last five games without a win.
Northern Ireland met two-time winners Norway twice during qualifying and suffered resounding 6-0 defeats on both occasions.
Northern Ireland v Norway: live commentary
This European Championship clash will take place on Thursday, July 7.
talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of the game at Southampton’s St. Mary’s stadium with kick-off scheduled for 8pm.
Shebahn Aherne will be your presenter while commentary will come from Joe Shennan and former Leeds striker Lucy Ward.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Northern Ireland v Norway: Team news
Northern Ireland’s full 23-player squad confirmed
- Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (BK Hacken), Becky Flaherty (Brighouse Town), Shannon Turner (Wolverhampton Wanderers Women)
- Defenders: Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville Ladies), Rebecca Holloway (Racing Louisville), Ashley Hutton (Linfield Ladies), Abbie Magee (Cliftonville Ladies), Sarah McFadden (Durham Women), Rebecca McKenna (Lewes Women), Julie Nelson (Crusaders Strikers), Laura Rafferty (Southampton Women), Demi Vance (Rangers Women)
- Midfielders: Nadene Caldwell (Glentoran Women), Joely Andrews (Glentoran Women), Chloe McCarron (Glentoran Women), Marissa Callaghan (Cliftonville Ladies), Louise McDaniel (Cliftonville Ladies), Rachel Furness (Liverpool Women)
- Forwards: Simone Magill (unattached), Caitlin McGuinness (Cliftonville Ladies), Kirsty McGuinness (Cliftonville Ladies), Lauren Wade (Glentoran Women), Emily Wilson (Crusaders Strikers)
Northern Ireland v Norway: What has been said?
Shiels is avoiding placing any expectations on his side after his men’s counterpart Ian Baraclough publicly targeted four wins from as many Nations League games only to see his side fail to be victorious once.
“The girls know the language that we speak in the dressing rooms about what we want to do and how we are going to do it,” he said.
“I would relate this to Ian Baraclough, who was asked the question about the Nations League games and he expected to win all of the games.
“He didn’t say it like that, he wasn’t arrogant by any stretch.
“He said, which is logical, that he didn’t see any reason why the team couldn’t win all four matches and that sent out a message of motivation to his players.
“Some people took arrogance from that, but I think he was totally right to say it.
“I’m not going to say that we should win all three matches in the group.
“I can’t predict that we are going to beat any of these teams – I can’t predict that, that’s not possible.”
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