Euro 2025 play-off first round second leg: Northern Ireland v Croatia
Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Date: Tuesday, 29 October Kick-off: 19:00 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app.
Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby says her players “deserved better” after criticising the conditions surrounding their Euro 2025 play-off first leg in Croatia.
Oxtoby questioned the “lack of professional courtesy” after the floodlights were not turned on in time for a training session the night before the first leg.
Then, the day after the 1-1 draw in Varazdin, Northern Ireland cancelled a training session on Saturday because they were unhappy with facilities provided by the Croatian Football Association.
“We hold ourselves to a really high standard and obviously we’re disappointed that those standards were not reciprocated,” Oxtoby said ahead of the second leg.
“But we can’t control that. We got the draw and now we will look to really assert ourselves on the game, now we are in a position to control all the fundamentals.”
When asked if it was frustrating that the standards set within the group had not been reciprocated, Oxtoby said: “It’s part of the challenge but the players deserve better, if I’m honest.
“It shouldn’t be about coaches or any of us, it should be about how the players deserve the opportunity to prepare for one of the biggest games of their careers in the right manner.”
In a statement to BBC Sport, the Croatian FA said it “cannot agree” that there was a lack of “professional courtesy”.
“We always try to meet our guests and ensure adequate conditions, which we did this time as well,” it said.
It added that the floodlight issue before the pre-match training session was “due to technical reasons” and it is “not responsible” for providing training pitches for visiting teams.
Despite the outside noise surrounding the game, Northern Ireland left Croatia with a 1-1 draw after an injury-time own goal by Izabela Lojna, who also netted an early penalty for the hosts.
Reflecting on the game, Oxtoby said she was “positive” about the performance and she was confident her side could progress to the next round of play-offs.
If Northern Ireland triumph in Belfast on Tuesday, then they will likely face Norway for a place at the Euro 2025 finals in Switzerland next summer.
The hosts are boosted by the return of midfielder Joely Andrews, who missed the first leg through injury, while defender Rachel Dugdale will be assessed after picking up a knock in Croatia.
“I thought we dominated the ball and created loads of opportunities”, said Oxtoby, who added she has “selection headaches” for the second leg.
“We need to be a bit more clinical, which is some of the things that we have been discussing, but, apart from that penalty, I don’t think you can ask for much more.
“We need to make sure we convert that dominance with the ball in the final third into goals.”
When asked what will make the difference to produce a match-winning performance over 90 minutes, Oxtoby said patience will be key.
“If things don’t go your way in the first 20 or 25 minutes, then it’s about having the confidence and patience in what you are trying to do, that it will come.
“I’ve seen a lot of maturity from the group in that area. They have the patience to probe and try different things, and our principles of play have been really positive.
“It’s another opportunity to do that and I’m really excited to see how they go.”
