The toughest tie possible. That’s what Northern Ireland manager Michael McArdle believes awaits his team in the 2027 World Cup Play-offs in October.
That’s why, with the two-legged tussle against Portugal still three months away, McArdle is already getting down to work in preparing a master plan to stop a team that outside of the 2019 World Cup has qualified for every major tournament in the last decade.
That’s the level Northern Ireland aspire to reach and with the size of the task in front of his team being immense McArdle is relishing the challenge while ensuring the time in the lead up to the games is used to its maximum.
“In Portugal we have undoubtedly drawn the hardest of the ties,” said McArdle.
“We’ve studied their style and system. They have emerged as a strong nation particularly in recent years and we acknowledge the trajectory of their recent rise, qualifying for four of the last five major tournaments and regarded widely as a top footballing nation.”
Already McArdle has identified patterns in Portugal’s performances. Northern Ireland’s most recent game, a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland, who have also become used to qualifying for tournaments, was the closest thing to a Play-off tie and while the result will need to be different against the Portuguese, performance wise there were reasons to be optimistic for the future.
“We are looking forward to testing ourselves against a nation who are possession dominant,” said McArdle.
“We will be looking to do well in the duels, hold on to the ball effectively and control the game when we don’t have it. There’ll be different styles across the two games and our work in trying different things in the recent fixtures can only help stand us in good stead.”
McArdle was appointed to the role in March, immediately after Northern Ireland has lost to Switzerland and Turkey in the opening World Cup qualification double header under caretaker manager Kris Lindsay. He officially started on April 1 and has overseen four matches.
“In Portugal we have undoubtedly drawn the hardest of the ties. They have emerged as a strong nation, qualifying for four of the last five major tournaments.”
Michael McArdle
His tenure couldn’t have started any better. Back-to-back wins over Malta ended a run of six games without a win and four without a goal and ultimately those results were enough to secure the World Cup Play-off place.
For the Scotsman, who left his role as Head of Elite Women’s Football at the Scottish FA to become Northern Ireland manager, there has been a lot to get his teeth into.
“The first three months have flown by. It has been a brilliant experience so far. It’s been great from an information gathering perspective but also about the ambition of the team and its potential,” said McArdle.
“Most importantly it’s been about getting to know one another. That’s not just about myself and the players, but the wider backroom staff as well as colleagues right across the association. I’m learning about the NIFL (Northern Ireland Football League/Women’s Premiership) clubs and the players in the league. Off the pitch, generally, the experience has been really positive.”
There has been much more to McArdle’s approach than focussing at the top of the pyramid. With the full-time professionals in his squad in their close season his attention has been on other things.
Northern Ireland hosting the European Under-17 Championships gave him the perfect opportunity to examine the emerging talent at close quarters while the domestic season running through the summer means players performing at that level are being closely monitored too.
“Being visible at games in Northern Ireland is fundamental to my role. It’s the lifeblood of the game and I have already spent a lot of time at matches,” said McArdle, who most recently saw Cliftonville Ladies beat Glentoran Women in the League Cup final while also watching Linfield Women take on the Glens in the Women’s Premiership.
“I was at the Cup final recently and of course, the UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship, which was a brilliant way to keep an eye on the pathway that will ultimately help shape our future.
“I have used these opportunities to get to know people too, which is really important.”
The most important thing, however, will always be results on the pitch. After those wins over Malta in April the two June games, both 2-1 defeats to Turkey and Switzerland, were somewhat mixed. Both games saw Northern Ireland play well in parts, but all four of the goals conceded were the type that leave managers frustrated.
| Michael McArdle’s Northern Ireland record |
| v Malta (home) 4-0 win |
| v Malta (away) 4-2 win |
| v Turkey (away) 1-2 loss |
| v Switzerland (home) 1-2 loss |
One positive was teenage midfielder Emily Cassap, who had only just had her eligibility ratified after switching from England, scoring seconds after coming on for her debut against the Swiss.
Matching teams of that level of opposition was another point that McArdle will take into account when the challenge of Portugal comes around.
“The second camp in particular showed us how to be agile against strong opponents. We experienced narrow defeats in challenging circumstances. We also learned a lot about ourselves as a group,” he said.
“There were 10 goals scored across the games with new players getting on the scoresheet. The girls have been great in trying to impose a brave style of play and not being afraid to try different things for different situations. A huge amount of learning has taken place.”
