Iceland 3-0 Northern Ireland: 'Proud' Tanya Oxtoby says NI can improve after play-off defeat

Tanya Oxtoby, manager of Northern Ireland's women's football team, has expressed pride in her side despite losing the Nations League play-off to Iceland. A 5-0 aggregate win over the two legs meant that Iceland retained their top-tier status and relegated Northern Ireland to League B for World Cup qualifying.

The second leg was postponed due to heavy snow in Reykjavik, forcing a rescheduled game on Wednesday night. Oxtoby acknowledged the challenges posed by the delay but praised her players and staff for adapting under difficult circumstances. She said: "For the group to come out and perform how they did, the country should be super proud of the players for what they've had to deal with over the last couple of days."

The Northern Ireland manager also emphasized that there are areas where her team can improve. When asked about the progress made since she took charge in September 2023, Oxtoby noted that it has been "night and day." While acknowledging that small improvements need to be made in possession, particularly in terms of controlling the ball better.

Oxtoby also highlighted the strong morale within the squad, which is crucial as they look to bounce back from this setback. The team's resilience was on display during a challenging period when heavy snow forced them to adapt to an unconventional schedule for their second leg against Iceland.

omg y'all i'm still reeling over that 5-0 drubbing lol but u gotta respect Tanya Oxtoby for keeping it real she's being super honest about the team's areas for improvement, especially in possession control, and honestly, who can blame them? controlling the ball is hard, period ️ what i love about her approach tho is that she's all about praising the squad for their resilience & adaptability - those girls have been through WILD stuff heavy snow & rescheduled games are NOT easy to deal with and it's clear they're still super hungry for success so yeah, while the loss stings, i'm more hyped for the team's potential in the future

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s so inspiring to see Tanya Oxtoby keep her cool despite the tough circumstances . A 5-0 aggregate win over Iceland might not be the result they wanted, but losing top-tier status is still a huge accomplishment for their team. And you know what really gets me? They did all that with a rescheduled game and heavy snow in the middle of it . The fact that Tanya acknowledged her team's progress since September 2023 is pretty cool too - from "night and day" to actually making some improvements! That shows they're working hard to get better, even if it's not perfect .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around that Nations League play-off result . I mean, 5-0 aggregate win is not something you want to brag about in this case . But, fair play to Tanya Oxtoby and her team for keeping their heads up despite the tough circumstances . That rescheduled game on Wednesday night was like a rollercoaster ride - one minute you're waiting for the snow to clear, next minute you're back on the pitch trying to secure that win .

What's got me thinking though is how much of an impact weather conditions can have on sports . I mean, who expects to play a football match in the middle of a blizzard ? It's like they say - when life gives you snow, make snowballs... or in this case, try to score goals .

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how Northern Ireland bounces back from this setback . Oxtoby's right, though - those players and staff have shown incredible resilience under pressure . We should all be proud of them for that alone .

OMG, I'm loving Tanya Oxtoby's attitude ! I mean, losing 5-0 in aggregate is tough, but she's still showing so much pride and faith in her team . And can we talk about how she handled the whole snow delay thing? I was on the edge of my seat watching that rescheduled game on Wednesday night . The fact that they were able to bounce back like that says so much about their squad's strength and resilience . Now, I know Northern Ireland won't be playing in the top tier next World Cup, but let's not forget that they're still a force to be reckoned with . Oxtoby's all about progress, not perfection, and I'm loving her down-to-earth approach . Bring on the next challenge for this team – I'm rooting for them all the way!

Man, I feel for Northern Ireland's women's football team . They had that Nations League play-off all wrapped up until the snowstorm hit in Reykjavik . But you know what? Their manager Tanya Oxtoby is being super positive about it . She's proud of her players and staff for bouncing back from that crazy delay. It shows they've got some mental toughness, which is huge in sports.

On a more serious note, I think the team can definitely learn from this experience . They need to work on controlling the ball better, especially in possession ️. But overall, it's great to see them having a strong morale . That's what matters when you're facing setbacks like this. And hey, they'll just have to come back stronger next time .

Ugh, that Northern Ireland women's football team still got destroyed 5-0 and yet Tanya Oxtoby is still proud of her squad . I mean, come on, 5 goals down is a lot! But you gotta give 'em credit for bouncing back from that crazy snow delay . Those players adapted to an unconventional schedule and performed way better than most teams would have done in similar circumstances. So yeah, morale is strong, they just need to work on possession skills , like controlling the ball better in open play. It's not all bad news tho! They made some progress since Tanya took over in 2023 and that's a good start. Now let's see them bounce back stronger next time

I'm still in shock that Northern Ireland lost that Nations League play-off to Iceland . I mean, 5-0 aggregate is crazy! But you know what's even crazier? How Tanya Oxtoby and her team handled the snow delay . It's like they say, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"... or in this case, "when life throws a snowstorm, play footy under a bubble ". Seriously though, I'm proud of them for adapting to those crazy circumstances and still managing to put up a good fight . Now, let's just hope they can learn from their mistakes and come back stronger next time .

I don't get why people are fangirling over Northern Ireland's loss . I mean, 5-0 is brutal, it's not like they gave Iceland a game . And yeah, the snow delay was a legit reason for the postponed game, can't blame Tanya Oxtoby for that . But let's be real, if you're gonna get relegated to League B, might as well be on your own merits, right? I'm not buying all the hype about their 'morale' and 'resilience' just because they played through a snowstorm . Those are just excuses for losing badly .

I think Tanya Oxtoby is super cool for keeping it real about the tough season her team had! Losing 5-0 might sound bad, but she's all about acknowledging the positives – like how proud the country should be of its players for handling that crazy snow delay. And let's be real, a 5-0 win in aggregate isn't so bad either! What I love is that she's not sugarcoating it, though – she knows her team can do better with possession control and small tweaks here and there. But what's really inspiring is the squad's morale! They showed they can bounce back from anything, even a crazy snow-filled second leg .

OMG u guys! Tanya Oxtoby is literally the ultimate boss right now! Her team may not have won the Nations League play-off, but they're still so proud of themselves for showing up and giving it their all despite those crazy weather conditions. I mean, can you even imagine having to play a game in the snow? Like, what?!

And honestly, I'm lovin' her attitude about it. She's not dwelling on the loss, she's lookin at the positives - like how her players and staff are so strong and resilient as a team. It's all about bouncin back from that setback, and I gotta say, they're gonna be better for it. The morale in that squad is off the charts! They're already makin progress since Tanya took over, even if it doesn't feel like it right now. It's like night and day, bruv... one minute you're down, next minute you're up!

I gotta say, I'm not feeling too good about Northern Ireland's relegation ...don't get me wrong, Tanya Oxtoby and her team put up a good fight, but 5-0 aggregate is just brutal . I know it's all part of the game, but it still stings.

I do think Oxtoby's right though - morale matters in sports, and if Northern Ireland can find ways to stay positive despite this setback, they'll be back stronger . And let's give credit where credit is due - those players adapted to some crazy weather conditions ...that takes guts!

But for me, it's hard not to feel like there's room for improvement in terms of possession and controlling the ball better ️. Still, Tanya Oxtoby seems like a smart coach who knows how to get the best out of her team . Bring on next season and hope they can bounce back stronger

You know what this loss tells us? It's not about one game or one tournament, it's about the journey as a whole. Tanya Oxtoby and her team may have lost, but they've gained something way more valuable – experience, teamwork, and resilience. Remember when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, right? In this case, let's say they got snowed in (literally!), but instead of letting it freeze their spirits, they adapted and still managed to shine through.

It's all about perspective, my friends. Winning isn't everything, but the way we respond to our setbacks can make us stronger. So, what can we learn from Northern Ireland's team? We can learn that with a positive attitude, support, and a willingness to adapt, even in the face of adversity, we can overcome obstacles and come out on top – or at least, with our heads held high!

I mean, 5-0 aggregate win in the Nations League play-off? That's some serious skill! Tanya Oxtoby is straight up being real about the challenges her team faced with the rescheduled game and they still managed to come out on top . And you know what's even more impressive? The fact that she's already pointing out areas for improvement . Like, "night and day" progress isn't something you hear every day! It's great to see her keeping it real about the team's strengths and weaknesses.

And can we talk about that squad morale for a sec? It's clear they're all in this together and that's what makes them such a formidable team. The fact that they could bounce back from an unconventional schedule like that just shows you how resilient they are . So yeah, I'm feeling the love for Northern Ireland's women's football team right now !

The fact that Tanya Oxtoby is still beaming with pride after the loss is actually a good sign,imo . It shows that she's got her priorities straight and knows what matters most – the team's morale and spirit. I mean, who needs to win the Nations League when you've got a squad that can bounce back from adversity? The second leg was crazy with all that snow and rescheduling, but those players adapted like champs! That takes skill and teamwork. Sure, they might be relegated to League B, but they'll learn from this and come stronger .

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s awesome how Tanya Oxtoby is keeping things positive despite the tough loss. Like, yeah, they got knocked out of the top tier, but at least they can hold their heads high and know they gave it a good go . And ouch, Iceland had some rough weather to deal with too – heavy snow in Reykjavik? That's like, no joke! I feel for Tanya’s team, adapting under those circumstances is no easy feat . They might not be top tier right now, but they can use that as fuel for the next season and come back stronger .

omg u no how frustrating it is 4 northern ireland team !! they had such a dominant win 2nite & then this lol tanya oxtoby's got some good points tho, like the squad's morale is SO strong! they've been through so much already w/ the snow postponement & stuff... i feel 4 them but yeah, they gotta work on controlling possession a bit more... idk, it's just such a small thing, but makes a big diff

the way oxtoby handled that postponed match is honestly super impressive i mean, 5-0 aggregate win isn't bad, but the fact she can spin it as a positive and praise her team for adapting under difficult circumstances shows so much character . and yeah, acknowledging areas where they need to improve is all part of being a good manager . the morale within the squad sounds really strong too - that's what matters most at this point . but let's be real, i'm still on the lookout for those players to have more control over the ball in their possession ️