History Makers (Euro 2022: Northern Ireland Qualify – player interviews)

Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 2-1 in Kovalivka and 2-0 at Seaview to reach a first major tournament, and five of the squad describe what it felt like. Jackie Burns flew back to university in Tennessee two days later and missed the dressing room entirely, having been picked for a drug test. Nadene Caldwell, who scored the second at Seaview, remembers drivers outside the ground blasting their horns because no fans were allowed in. Sarah McFadden knew it was won when Marissa Callaghan scored and Ukraine’s heads went, and is honest about the cost of leaving her daughter for ten days at a time. Simone Magill points back to a 6-0 hammering by Norway as the game that proved the team was special. Julie Nelson lists eight players lost to injury.