'Anything is possible' for underdogs Northern Ireland

Being truthful, few outside of Northern Ireland expect anything but a victory for Norway in their Euro 2025 play-off.

But that is not the case within Tanya Oxtoby's youthful group, who will adopt the underdogs tag over the two legs.

For captain Simone Magill, the chance to shock one of Europe's most-fancied sides for a place at next summer's finals in Switzerland "is a great opportunity".

"The message has been very clear this week. Anything is possible," Magill told BBC Sport NI

"We're excited. We know it's a massive task ahead but it's one that we are relishing.

"We know what we're coming up against but we will go in and believe we can make something of these two games."

Northern Ireland are looking to reach back-to-back Euro finals, but this will be a new experience for the majority of Oxtoby's squad.

Of the 23 players who travelled to the country's first major tournament almost two-and-a-half years ago, only 11 have been named to face Norway this time around.

It is the fourth occasion Northern Ireland will have faced Norway in recent years.

Norway twice ran out 6-0 winners in qualifying for Euro 2022, and then 4-1 winners at the finals in England.

It's a remarkable turnover of players in a short space of time, and Magill says it is up to those who have featured on the biggest stage to advise the younger members of the squad.

"All the senior players, we have a lot of leaders and we've spoken a lot about that," added the Birmingham City striker.

"It's for us to step up and guide the younger players who have never experienced anything like this before.

"Even talking about a major tournament, it's new territory for a lot of our players.

"We have to focus on the game and not the occasion and we have to take it one game at a time."

Oxtoby replaced Kenny Shiels as manager in the summer of 2023 and her first game was a 3-0 defeat by the Republic of Ireland that September.

Given the turnover in her playing staff and the introduction of young and exciting talent over the space of 15 months, the Australian admits she didn't expect her side to have progressed to a play-off for a major tournament so soon.

"It's been a real journey over this last year, but it's been a brilliant journey," added Magill.

"These are the teams we want to be playing against, we want to see where we are. What's a better test than to play a side like Norway?

"We have played them on numerous times in recent years but this is a chance for this young squad to see where we are."

Magill believes the progress made since Oxtoby's opening match is a "credit" to the squad.

"For a long time we were the underdogs in every single game and no-one ever expected us to win games.

"It's a credit to all the players on the journey we've been on over the last number of years that the attitude has changed."

The first leg will take place at Inver Park at Larne, rather than the wider, more expansive National Stadium at Windsor Park.

Inver Park has similarities to the more compact Seaview, where Northern Ireland had so much success on their way to qualifying for Euro 2022.

Compared to the Covid-hit play-off in 2021, where Northern Ireland defeated Ukraine to reach a first major tournament, fans will be present at both matches.

"We have spoken a lot about our fans and how important they can be for us," Magill added.

"The pressure is all on Norway. We have been underdogs our whole lives. We are on this occasion and we have to use that to our advantage.

"We are underdogs but we also know what we're capable of. We have to believe in our capabilities and our strengths as a team.

"We thrive in this situation and anything is possible. We go into Friday's game believing that."