Euro 2024: The Price is right for Northern Ireland as campaign ends on a high

Northern Ireland rounded off what has been a more than disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign in the best possible fashion at Windsor Park.

Second half goals from Isaac Price and Dion Charles gave Michael O'Neill's a fully-deserved victory against the group winners in front of a home crowd that got more raucous as the match went on.

O'Neill has had to deal with a mountain of injuries throughout the campaign and many expected the visitors to come to Belfast for a procession. But O'Neill's young side had different ideas and after being under the cosh to an extent early on, they came out of their shell in the second period to score two fine goals.

O'Neill made three changes from the team that began the 4-0 defeat ion Finland on Friday with Shea Charles, Ciaron Brown and Dale Taylor coming in for Jordan Thompson, Daniel Ballard and Ross McCausland.

Despite the Danes enjoying the bulk of the early possession, it was Northern Ireland who had the opening chance of the match with less than eight minutes on the clock.

After latching on to a loose ball 25 yards out on the left, Dion Charles surged forward before cracking in a low left-foot drive from a tight angle. It beat Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel, only to smack the base of the right and post before being cleared.

While Denmark – as expected - retained much of the ball, they were reduced to shots from distance, although both Trai Hume and Ciaron Brown will feel their goalkeeper Conor Hazzard could have controlled his area somewhat better, with the defensive duo giving away needless corners in quick succession midway through the half.

Chances were scarce, apart from Charles' early effort, but the match definitely had an ' end of group and nothing to play for' feel about it, it has to be said.

On the half hour, the visitors went close as Joachim Andersen's volley from the edge of the box hit his team-mate Matt O'Riley to squirm a couple of yards wide of the left post.

The visitors should have gone in front three minutes later.

Neat interplay between Victor Kristiansen and Mohamed Daramy down the left, saw Kristiansen square it low across the six-yard box where Kasper Dolberg was lurking.

However, the Anderlecht forward could only poke it wide from close range under pressure from Paddy McNair.

With almost the final action of the first half, Hazard was called into action to make a smart save with his legs following a speculative low drive from distance by Andreas Christensen. The Barcelona defender’s effort appeared to take a slight deflection on the way.

Northern Ireland will have been happy to get to the break on level terms, given they were unable to get out of their own half for the final 15 minutes of the opening period.

It took seven minutes for Northern Ireland to go close in the first half with that Dion Charles shot and it was almost the same time into the second period that they went agonisingly near to breaking the deadlock.

Again it was down that left channel with Jamal Lewis clipping a delicate cross into the box that was superbly attacked by Eoin Toal 10 yards out. But the Bolton defender could only direct his towering header inches wide of the right-hand post for what would have been his first international goal.

Then came the breakthrough on the hour mark.

A sweeping move that originated through the impressive Lewis down the left saw him find Dion Charles. He played the ball inside to namesake Shea and while the majority of Windsor Park urged him to shoot from just outside the box, he teed up Price to his right and the young attacker slammed home his second goal for his country – his shot going under Schmeichel from 15 yards out.

Denmark immediately reacted by making three changes, and one of them, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg volleyed wide from the edge of the box on 69 minutes at Kasper Hjulmand’s side attempted to draw level.

But it was Northern Ireland who struck next with a superb counter-attacking goal.

George Saville sprayed a brilliant ball wide left to Conor McMenamin. The substitute – only one the pitch a matter of minutes – powered towards the box and delivered an inch-perfect low cross that allowed Dion Charles the simplest of tasks to sidefoot into the unguarded net.

It was a goal of clinical quality and one that Charles deserved for his work-rate all evening.

With the Danes already qualified, they looked to have little drive to try and get back into the game, but that's not to take anything away from Northern Ireland.

After all the criticism they've taken this campaign, they deserve the praise for this performance.

And praise they are most definitely due.

MATCH STATS

Northern Ireland: Hazard, Hume, Lewis, McNair (C), Toal, Brown, S Charles, Saville (Thompson 82), Price (Smyth 78), D Charles (Washington 87), Taylor (McMenamin 78)

Subs not used: Southwood (GK), McMullan (GK), Boyd-Munce, McCausland, Jones, Marshall, Spencer, Magennis

Denmark: Schmeichel (C), Andersen, A Christensen, Kristensen, Lindstrom (Poulsen 56), Kristiansen, Hjulmand (Wind 73), O’Riley (Hojbjerg 61), Jensen (Delaney 61), Dolberg, Daramy (Vestergaard 61)

Subs not used: Hermansen (GK), Rennow (GK), Nelsson, Maehle, Stryger, Dreyer

Referee: Jerome Brisard (France)