Northern Ireland’s unfortunate quest to make it to the 2024 European Championship will have a suitable downbeat ending at Windsor Park in Belfast tonight. Denmark, who secured their qualification on Friday, are the visiting team.
It was expected that this match would be a significant event, similar to a Group H playoff, with the home team driven by the lively atmosphere of Windsor Park. Instead, Michael O’Neill’s second stint as manager has been marked by a largely disappointing campaign.
While Denmark successfully qualified, O’Neill’s team faced a 4-0 loss in Finland, making it seven defeats in the first nine group games. The only exceptions were both against the low-ranking San Marino. The team has suffered from injuries, with only seven players available for training last week.
There was a strong bond between fans and the European Championship due to Northern Ireland’s unexpected qualification for Euro 2016 under O’Neill, prompting the expectation that Belfast’s reaction to staging Euro 2028 would be jubilant, but it wasn’t.
The decision to hold the five Euro 2028 matches at a redeveloped Casement Park, rather than the Windsor Park where fans have voiced loud opposition, has raised concerns and dissatisfaction.
This has sparked controversy surrounding the allocation of funds for the redevelopment of stadiums in Belfast and the political divisions in the country. Additionally, meaningful discussions regarding the further expansion of Windsor Park have been hard to come by.
Despite the complicated situation with Casement Park’s redevelopment, the GAA remains committed to its reconstruction. And while costs have grown significantly over the years, discussions are underway to ensure the project moves forward, although one of the contractors has encountered difficulties.