Rebecca McKenna Nears 60 Caps as NI Marks Five Years Since Euro 2022 Qualification
On Monday, 13 April, Northern Ireland commemorated five years since their historic qualification for the Euro 2022 finals. That memorable night at Seaview saw Northern Ireland defeat Ukraine, overcoming the odds to secure a place in their first major tournament, held the following year in England.
Of the 23 players who traveled to Southampton for Euro 2022, only nine remain active in the current World Cup campaign. This number will increase to ten with the anticipated return of influential captain and key striker Simone Magill, who is expecting her first child later this spring. Despite this, significant changes have taken place within the Northern Ireland squad.
The average age of the squad has decreased from 26.7 to 25.2 years, while the average number of caps per player has dropped from 42.3 to 28.4. The managerial landscape has also shifted, with Kenny Shiels' tenure concluded, followed by the departure of his successor Tanya Oxtoby. The upcoming match against Malta will mark Michael McArdle's debut as head coach.
Rebecca McKenna has been a consistent presence throughout the past five years. At 25 years old, she is on the verge of earning her 60th cap in the 2027 World Cup qualifying match against Malta. The Birmingham City defender has experienced the evolution of the team firsthand and believes the current youthful squad is as "special" as the Euro 2022 pioneers, though she notes there are no direct comparisons between the generations.
"Qualifying for the Euros five years ago, I think that's just made us hungrier," McKenna said on her 25th birthday. "That was a special moment and for that group and we deserved to be there. I think the group we have now is just as special and I think all the girls who are here, deserve to be here."
NI 'Hungry' for Wins Under McArdle
While the journey to Euro 2022 remains a proud memory, Northern Ireland's focus is firmly on future achievements. The squad's youthful composition and the new qualification format, which requires Northern Ireland to overcome at least two higher-ranked teams to reach the finals, suggest that the 2027 World Cup may come too soon.
After opening their qualifying campaign with defeats to Switzerland and Turkey, both under interim manager Kris Lindsay, Northern Ireland aims to commence their campaign positively with a home match against Malta at Mourneview Park on Tuesday, followed by the reverse fixture on Saturday.
For McKenna, the emphasis is on long-term progress toward qualifying for another major tournament. She noted that the squad is "getting better each camp."
"We got a taste of being on the big stage and I think we all want to qualify for another major tournament," McKenna said. "That's a long-term goal but I think we've just got to take it game by game. Obviously the group we have is special and everyone trusts each other, and I think that's probably the most important thing in this group. We've got a great group and hopefully we can get to another major tournament."
Michael McArdle will take charge of his first Northern Ireland match against Malta.
McKenna described her experience working with McArdle during his initial camp as "positive," emphasizing the team's eagerness to improve upon the results against Switzerland and Turkey.
"All the girls have just bought into it straight away and I think that's the main thing," McKenna said regarding McArdle. "Training has been really good. We've just got to bring that and what we've worked on in training into the game and just really look forward to it."
McArdle, formerly head of elite women's football at the Scottish FA, highlighted the squad's "great balance" of youth and experience, noting the strong mutual support among players.
Northern Ireland enters the double-header against Malta as favorites, with both teams aiming to maintain their status in League B. However, a goalless draw in their last meeting in Belfast in 2023 demonstrates that Malta remains a challenging opponent.
"Six points is the focus," McArdle stated. "It won't be straightforward. You've got to earn the right and Malta are showing that they're improving all the time. It will be a difficult test for us and we're certainly taking it one game at a time. The focus is on the performance and more importantly, the three points."
