Northern Ireland-Norway: We can prosper with the loser label – Laura Rafferty

Defender Laura Rafferty says Northern Ireland will have the “classic underdog tag” in their Euro 2025 play-off against Norway.

Despite the odds favoring Norway, Rafferty believes Northern Ireland can cause an upset and reach the finals in Switzerland next summer.

The first leg will take place at Inver Park on Friday before the return leg in Oslo on Tuesday.

“It’s a classic underdog label that we’ve used before,” Rafferty said.

“Facing one of the best in the world is incredible for us. We have a young team, but I know everyone is going to thrive from it.”

Norway has defeated Northern Ireland three times in recent years. Their last meeting ended with a 4-1 victory for the Norwegians in the Euro 2022 finals, and they also won both matches 6-0 in qualifying for that tournament.

Northern Ireland reached the play-offs with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Croatia, while Norway defeated Albania 14-0 on aggregate, including a 9-0 victory in Oslo.

Rafferty is one of 11 players in Tanya Oxtoby’s squad that featured for Northern Ireland in the Euro 2022 final in England.

She says playing in the country’s first major tournament was “one of the best moments of my life” and that feeling is helping fuel her playoff hopes.

“It’s something you dream about when you’re a kid, especially in a small country like ours,” the Rangers defender added.

“It’s something we all dream of. We have two minutes and more than 90 minutes to make that happen.

“For me, I don’t want them to get in the way of our dreams.

“It’s about taking responsibility and making sure our dreams come true.”