Uefa Women’s Euro 2025 Qualifying Group B3
Malta v Northern Ireland (Friday, 6.30pm)
NORTHERN Ireland will see their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign come to an end over the next few days as they meet Malta away in Ta’Qali on Friday before hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina at Windsor Park on Tuesday.
Tanya Oxtoby’s side have picked up four points from their four outings to currently sit in third in the four-team Group B3 table. Their sole win came against Bosnia and Herzegovina back in April, while they earned a 0-0 draw with Malta earlier that month as well.
Their recent form hasn’t been great, however, as they suffered back-to-back defeats to table-toppers Portugal, losing 4-0 away from home and 2-1 at Mourneview Park in early June.
Northern Ireland scored first on the latter occasion, with Lauren Wade netting inside the first five minutes of the contest, but Portugal chalked up two goals of their own before half-time to continue their winning form.
Malta head into the encounter off the back of three successive defeats to Portugal and Bosnia and Herzegovina (2). The Bosnians earned a 2-1 win in their most recent outing, with Maria Farrugia claiming their only goal of the campaign so far.
Malta drew with Northern Ireland in the opening round and that has proved to be the only point Manuela Tesse’s have earned so far in the competition.
The aim for Northern Ireland will be to finish in second or third in the group, which will guarantee a place in the play-offs for next year’s finals in Switzerland.