Northern Ireland v Luxembuourg (05/09/2024)

Northern Ireland geared up for their latest UEFA Nations League campaign with an end of season tour to Spain in June. At their base at the La Torre complex just outside Murcia, manager Michael O’Neill, his coaching staff and the players prepared to face opposition at either end of the international football spectrum. First up was a game against Spain, who would be crowned European champions just over a month later, followed by an encounter with Andorra, one of the minnows of European football. The friendly against the Spanish was staged at the Son Moix Stadium in Mallorca in front of just under 20,000 fans. Northern Ireland took the lead after only two minutes. Caolan Boyd-Munce, making his international debut, produced a sweet delivery from a free-kick which was met by Daniel Ballard. Spain keeper Unai Simon got a hand to Ballard’s header but he could not prevent it from hitting the back of the net. The early goal sparked the Spanish into action VIVA ESPANA! and they turned on the power and style. The hosts drew level through attacking midfielder Pedri just 10 minutes later before striker Alvaro Morata edged Spain ahead on 18 minutes after nodding home a pinpoint Jesus Navas cross into the area. Wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who would both go on to star at UEFA Euro 2024, were on fire. Luis de la Fuente’s side continued to create chances and a third goal duly arrived when Pedri grabbed his second of the game in the 29th minute. Williams provided the assist. Six minutes later midfielder Fabian Ruiz added his name to the scoresheet. This time it was teenager Yamal who set it up.

WORDS: NIGEL TILSON

Northern Ireland, however, did have chances in the first half. Shea Charles’ shot from the edge of the box was parried by Simon before Jamie Reid fed Isaac Price whose effort sailed over the bar. The intensity of the match in the Balearic Islands went down a notch or two after the break, however Spain continued to assert themselves. Yamal was the provider once more when goal number five for the Spanish arrived on 60 minutes. He pulled the ball back for substitute Mikel Oyarzabal to clip it home from close range. Northern Ireland had another opportunity when Dale Taylor played in Price, however Simon was equal to his effort. Afterwards Michael O’Neill said it had been a more than useful exercise despite the final scoreline. “It would have been easier to play a nation that was more at our level, but I think in the Nations League we’ll play teams at our level and this was a chance to show our players the highest level,” he pointed out. He also said: “The result is always important, but the most important thing with this squad is we’re continuing to build and continuing to develop. “They are hurt by it, it’s a quiet dressing room. No-one likes to be on the end of a 5-1 defeat but they will go away and realise what level they have to aspire to get to.” Unlike the game in Palma, where Northern Ireland were very much the underdogs, the game against Andorra saw O’Neill’s side wearing the favourites tag. Captain Jonny Evans headed home after the Spain game, and it was to prove to be his last in a Northern Ireland shirt; he announced his retirement from international duty last week. Instead Daniel Ballard wore the armband against Andorra, leading the team out for the first time at Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia.

IRISHFA.COM

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