Iceland 3-0 Northern Ireland: ‘Proud’ Tanya Oxtoby says Northern Ireland can improve after play-off defeat

Oxtoby said the postponement of the second leg had been “difficult” and she was “very proud” of how her players and staff had coped.

The former Chelsea assistant coach, who also questioned “professional courtesy” in Croatia last year, said there was a “long way to go” in women’s football “in terms of professionalism and the way things are done.”

“For the group to come out and perform as they did, the country should be very proud of the players for what they have had to deal with over the last two days,” she added.

Northern Ireland will remain in League Two for World Cup qualifiers as they failed in their bid to reach the top flight for the first time and “We have work to do,” Oxtoby said.

But the Australian said the progress her young team has made since she took over as head coach in September 2023 is “night and day”.

“I think their request to do what we ask is nothing short of exceptional,” she said. “I think there are little areas for us, especially in possession, where we need to develop.”

“I think it comes with a bit of time and players knowing the areas we need to be better in. We can’t click our fingers and change that, so we need to stick together.

“The morale of this group is better than it’s ever been. Desire is better than it’s ever been.”