Few players know about the threat of Norway as much as Julie Nelson.
From the highs, lows and everything that comes with taking on one of the best teams in the world, she has experienced it all.
Norway have been dotted throughout Northern Ireland’s journey from outsiders to history makers, facing off seven times in the space of 11 years.
Now, the latest chapter will be written as the sides meet in a play-off to see who will reach the Euro 2025 finals in Switzerland.
On paper, it is hard to look past Norway. They are ranked 29 places higher than Northern Ireland and defeated Albania 14-0 on aggregate in their opening play-off.
Not only that, but taking the three most recent fixtures against Northern Ireland, which span from 2019 to 2022, Norway hold a 16-1 aggregate advantage.
“Northern Ireland love being the underdogs,” said Nelson, who won the last of her record 130 caps in 2022.
“We’ve been used to that over the years. It is a massive task but anything is possible in football.”
If Northern Ireland are to stun one of the giants of European football, then they may have to channel the spirit of 2011, on a cold November afternoon in Lurgan.
It was the night future Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg made her international debut aged 16, but it was Northern Ireland who were celebrating after a famous 3-1 win.
“I don’t think it’s one that she remembers but it’s one we definitely remember,” said Nelson, 39.
“It was incredible. At that stage Norway were ranked second in Europe and no-one was giving us a chance at beating them. It was something special.”
Norway would win the return fixture in that campaign 2-0, and they would be drawn together once more in 2019 World Cup qualifying, when the Norwegians triumphed 4-1 in Fredrikstad and 3-0 in Portadown in 2018.
Fast forward to the following year, Norway came to Belfast for the first match under Kenny Shiels in qualifying for Euro 2022.
Norway were at their ruthless best and ran out 6-0 winners, and it was the same scoreline in Oslo the following month as Northern Ireland adapted to a new style of play.
‘The place erupted’
After Northern Ireland pulled off a miracle to qualify for the finals, their paths would cross again on a historic summer evening in Southampton.
It was Northern Ireland’s first match at a women’s major tournament, so it was fitting that Norway were the opposition given the familiarity that had been there over the years.
It was a fairtytale journey to the finals, but a nightmare start as Norway raced into a 3-0 lead at St Mary’s.
Barcelona star Caroline Graham Hansen – the best player Nelson says she has ever faced – netted her ninth goal against Northern Ireland and Guro Reiten made it five in as many matches. As Nelson said, “we were like rabbits in the headlights”.
“They were ruthless and if you give them any opportunities they will score at will,” recalled Nelson.
“Then we had a bit of a team talk on the pitch.”
That seemed to do the trick, as the underdogs re-gathered and got a famous goal when Nelson managed to get on the end of Rachel Furness’ driven effort back across goal.
Nelson just managed to get enough direction on the ball for it to creep over the line. After a brief VAR check, there was pandemonium as the goal was awarded.
“Furney still says it was a cross but we’ll leave that up for debate. Thankfully I was able to react in time to get my head on the ball. The place erupted.
“It was a really special occasion for myself, my family were there and it was special for the whole team, with the landmark for Northern Ireland football.
“It’s still a bit surreal seeing it going in. It’s something I’ll not tire of watching, especially seeing the reaction from my team-mates and fans.”
Nelson feels there has been progress in women’s football in Northern Ireland since her goal and the historic summer of 2022.
She points to the “landmark” introduction of equal pay, in which the women’s team and men’s team are on an equal footing.
As a coach with the Irish FA, she is excited by the next generation of players coming through.
“Most of them will have taken it up off the back of us qualifying and competing at those Euros. Long may it continue and hopefully many of them will wear the senior shirt in the future.”
‘It would be incredible’
While Nelson is excited for the future, all eyes are firmly on Friday’s first leg at Inver Park.
Playing in a game of this magnitude will be a new experience to many of Oxtoby’s squad, with only 11 of those who featured at Euro 2022 involved in the current squad.
The arrival of Oxtoby in the summer of 2023 has seen a swift shift in transition, with Nelson one of a number of experienced players who are no longer involved.
“It’s part of the natural transition that was going to happen after the Euros given the age of some of the players,” said Nelson, who added “it always happens in football”.
“It has happened quite quickly and it has given opportunities now for younger players to come in and stake their claim.”
Now cheering the team on from outside the playing group, Nelson says it would be “an incredible achievement” if Northern Ireland could make more history.
“It’s going to be a massive learning opportunity, especially for the younger players. Not many of them have been in a game like this before or this scenario.
“Playing against the top-quality players, you will learn what the demands are to play at that level.
“You need to do things quicker, you need to think quicker and you need to react quicker, and it raises the game for you as an individual and you see the standard you need to get to if you want to compete against those teams.
“To qualify once for Northern Ireland was massive, but to do it again would just be incredible.”
