Euro 2025 play-offs and NI: who stands in their way..?

Euro 2025 play-offs and NI: who stands in their way?

 

Emerging victorious in their recent Euro 2022 campaign, Northern Ireland sets sight on the next challenge – clinching a berth in the tournament’s finals set to take place in Switzerland the following year.

Taking inspiration from the UEFA Nations League format adopted for Euro 2025 qualifiers, teams will vie for spots in the championship match through a revamped system wherein play-offs determine advancements alongside host nations.

To maximize chances of participating in a Euro 2025 play-off, avoiding last place within their respective groups assumes critical importance for Northern Irish footballers.

An analytical piece published by BBC Sport scrutinizes competitors impeding Northern Ireland’s progression towards fulfilling this objective, mapping out prospective hurdles and devising strategic countermeasures aimed at surmounting these anticipated obstructions.

With numerous variables at play, staying abreast of shifting dynamics represents a daunting yet essential task for fans keen on following their national squad’s exploits as they navigate unfamiliar territory strewn with fresh challenges waiting to be conquered en route to ultimate glory.

Portugal

 

In the year 2023, Portugal had a somewhat inconsistent performance on the global stage. After several disappointing showings in prior international events, they managed to qualify for both the 2017 and 2022 Euro tournaments. Moreover, Portugal participated in its first-ever World Cup the previous year and narrowly missed eliminating the United States during the group stages. Additionally,

they achieved victories against Norway and England while simultaneously suffering losses to both Austria and Japan in the same timeframe. As they head into the upcoming qualifiers, Portugal can take confidence from their recent successes as they emerged triumphant over the Czech Republic and South Korea in their initial matches of 2024.

Despite their occasional fluctuations in performance throughout 2023, Portugal remains a formidable contender and holds favoritism to top their respective qualifying group.

The team boasts an impressive roster comprising experienced players such as Ana Borges, Dolores Silva, and Carolina Mendes – all of whom possess extensive backgrounds competing in significant international events. Consequently, the forthcoming encounters against Northern Ireland in May are expected to serve as a valuable indicator of the extent to which the latter may have declined from the former’s level of proficiency.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

Globally ranked: 63

Boasting a global ranking of 63, Bosnia-Herzegovina secured a runner-up position in Group B4 of the 2023 Nations League, albeit succumbing to an overwhelming 10-0 defeat across both legs against Sweden in the subsequent promotion play-offs. Over the preceding twelve months,

the team has displayed sporadic results, amassing six defeats alongside three wins and two stalemates in their latest eleven outings. Although Bosnia-Herzegovina evidently possesses greater skill than their current rank suggests, pinpointing their precise standing proves challenging due to their unpredictable and fluctuating performances.

How do they compare?

According to the analysis provided, both Northern Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina appear poised to vie for the coveted second spot within their qualifying group, trailing behind the dominant presence of Portugal. Given these circumstances, the impending clash between these two sides carries immense significance, potentially yielding unexpected outcomes owing to the appointment of Selver Hodzic as Bosnia–

Herzegovina’s new tactician. Bolstering their ranks are promising youth prospects like Gloria Sliskovic, a defender hailing from Juventus, along with prodigious Inter Milan duo Maja Jelcic and Marija Milinkovic. However, the majority of their playing contingent primarily features individuals who participate in domestic leagues.

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Malta

 

87th in the world

Presently positioned at number 87 globally, Malta serves as the lowest-ranked entrant among the participating nations in their respective qualifying group. Nevertheless, they demonstrated remarkable resilience by securing the pinnacle spot in Group C1 of the 2023 Nations League, exhibiting an enviable undefeated streak stretching back twelve consecutive matches, punctuated solely by one draw and five emphatic victories.

Notably, despite having endured a barren spell wherein they claimed victory in just three of their preceding fourteen fixtures, Malta currently finds itself amidst a prosperous stretch characterized by consistent triumphs. Therefore, caution should be exercised when assessing Malta, given its propensity for delivering surprising results.

When evaluating Malta’s capabilities, it becomes apparent that they pose a considerable challenge for opponents, particularly in light of their outstanding accomplishments in the 2023 Nations League, where they dominated Group C1 without sustaining a single loss.

Their ongoing sequence of twelve consecutive matches without tasting defeat underscores their burgeoning strength, further augmented by the fact that they have found the back of the net at least once in every encounter during this period.

Under the guidance of newly appointed coach Manuela Tesse, Malta has recently strung together an impressive series of results, solidifying their status as a force to be reckoned with.

To offer context regarding Malta’s prowess, consider their comparable performance against Montenegro during the 2023 World Cup qualification phase, culminating in identical 2-0 scorelines for both teams on foreign soil.

This outcome highlights Malta’s ability to rival higher-ranked adversaries, thereby warranting cautious optimism concerning their potential achievements. Furthermore, despite fielding predominantly local talent,

Malta boasts a notable prospect in 19-year-old Haley Bugeja, a striker affiliated with Italian giants Inter Milan, whose already impressive scoring record stands at 14 goals garnered from merely 20 appearances. It would behoove opposing teams, such as Northern Ireland, to maintain vigilance and respect for Malta’s emergent abilities.

How do the playoffs operate?

During the progression towards the concluding phases of the tournament, the format shifts towards a more complex configuration. Automatically advancing to the championship game is the premier pair of teams hailing from each group within League A, adhering to a straightforward procedure.

Subsequent stages introduce added complexity, commencing with the lower echelon of League C members squaring off against the basement dwellers of League A groups in the preliminary playoff round. Simultaneously, an elaborate playoff structure unfolds, involving the foremost teams from League B engaging in competition against their equally matched counterparts.

Specifically, the elite trios emerging from each League B group face off in a tiered system aimed at determining the ultimate champion. Seeding takes place based on the relative positions attained within League B, ensuring balanced representation across the spectrum of participating teams.

An essential criterion governing access to the ensuing play-offs involves occupying one of the leading two spots within a designated League B group. Regrettably, the solitary exception concerns the third-placed team in League B, leaving them ineligible for progression. Such constraints represent a crucial factor that Northern Ireland will aim to circumvent diligently.

As the concluding segment of the competition approaches, the seven victorious entities arising from the earlier mentioned League B play-offs unite with host nation Switzerland and the octet of directly qualified teams,

forming an assembly of sixteen contestants preparing to engage in the final tournament. These esteemed representatives consist of champions crowned through the League A/C and League B play-offs, vying for supremacy in the prestigious finals.

 

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