When Northern Ireland needed someone to produce a match-winning moment as a nervy penalty shoot-out loomed after over 110 minutes of tension it was the most experienced player on the pitch who delivered the magic.
Lauren Wade was the only regular aged over 30 in Tanya Oxtoby’s squad for the Women’s Euro 2025 Play-off against Croatia – newly appointed captain Simone Magill will join that club on Friday. Between injury ruling out Nadene Caldwell, neither Sarah McFadden or Rachel Furness being recalled after previous absences and Oxtoby omitting Demi Vance and former skipper Marissa Callaghan the age profile has changed dramatically since the manager used the Nations League campaign to bed in before looking to the future.
The average age of the team that started the 1-0 extra-time win over Croatia that secured a place in the final Play-off stage was 25.6, that was after 19-year-old Keri Halliday was dropped to the bench. Caps wise Brenna McPartlan, Connie Scofield and Casey Howe – all given full debuts by Oxtoby this year – are all still in single figures, giving a further indication of the rapid rate of change under her management.
There will be no going back. Now rather than being led by the more experienced players the younger members of the squad are providing a new driving force for those who remain from the Euro 2022 Finals as they aim to repeat that achievement. The final barrier though is a huge one. Norway have scored 16 and conceded just Julie Nelson’s historic first Northern Ireland goal at a major women’s tournament in the last three meetings of the teams over the last five years.
“The kids are great. They are so hungry, they ask 101 questions and I love it,” explained captain Magill, who possesses the same excitement as her younger colleagues.
“We’ve got a few really good leaders in this team who have all stepped up and we’ve got a lot of youth who are hungry and ready to push on and take the next step.
“It’s great to see them having the impact they are and they will learn so much from games like this.
“We’ve got a massive task coming up where we know that we have to pull something out of the bag when we come to these next games.”
As Croatia continued to frustrate Oxtoby sacrificed her main striker in a bid to shake things up, casting the captain into a different role. One that was more difficult as she could no longer impact the game from within, but one she was no less passionate about.
“Every player, whether you are on the pitch or off the pitch, has a massive part to play and yes, my role had to change a little bit, but I had full faith in the team and that the players going on had the ability to go and win the game – which they did,” said Magill.
“It’s hard when you are standing at the side, but I can’t reiterate enough how proud I am of the girls for getting the job done.
“I was halfway down the sideline and then on the pitch, well probably get a fine,” she added with a smile.
It was a moment worth paying for as Wade’s superb strike from the edge of the 18 yard box flew into the top corner of the net.
Magill was only a raw 17-year-old herself when Northern Ireland pulled off probably their most famous ever result in beating Norway 3-1 in November 2011. Literally battle-scarred from the most recent meeting – Magill suffered a cruciate ligament injury during that meeting at the Euros – there is no hangover for the Birmingham City Women star.
Instead there is belief that what was once though was impossible can be achieved twice.
“We’ve played Norway numerous times in the past, They are a top, top side and we know what to expect playing against a side like Norway,” said Magill.
“It’s really exciting for us to still be in this stage and know we’re 180 minutes away from another major tournaments so we’re going to be so hungry and so driven to want to get back and experience that again.”