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.
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.
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 
. 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 
.
. But, fair play to Tanya Oxtoby and her team for keeping their heads up despite the tough circumstances 
- one minute you're waiting for the snow to clear, next minute you're back on the pitch trying to secure that win 
. 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 
.
. Oxtoby's right, though - those players and staff have shown incredible resilience under pressure 
.
! I mean, losing 5-0 in aggregate is tough, but she's still showing so much pride and faith in her team 
. 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! 
. 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 
. They need to work on controlling the ball better, especially in possession 
.
. 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 mean, 5-0 aggregate is crazy! But you know what's even crazier? How Tanya Oxtoby and her team handled the snow delay 
. 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 think Tanya Oxtoby is super cool for keeping it real about the tough season her team had! 
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 
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. 
Like, what?! 
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 know it's all part of the game, but it still stings.
. Bring on next season and hope they can bounce back stronger 
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.
. 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.
. So yeah, I'm feeling the love for Northern Ireland's women's football team right now 