Northern Ireland Women ready for Ukraine Euro test

Northern Ireland Women are facing perhaps the biggest game in their history this evening as they try to earn a place at a major tournament for the first time ever.

They're away to Ukraine at 17:00 in the first of their two-legged playoff for a spot at Euro 2022, with the return game taking place in Belfast next Tuesday.

The Ukranians are ranked 24th in the world, while Kenny Shiels' side sit in 49th place. Despite the gap, the manager and his players share a quiet confidence:

“They know about the mission of what we want to achieve and they are very much together in that,” he said.

“Our preparations for the game have been good. We have been doing good things on the training pitch all week.”

Experienced midfielder Sarah McFadden has also revealed her team-mates are in good spirits ahead of the away leg.

McFadden, who looks set to earn her 75th international cap in the game in Kovalivka, feels manager Kenny Shiels and his coaching staff have prepared the players well for the task ahead.

She said: “We are all just happy to be here and everyone is in really good spirits and we are ready to go. We are fully prepared for anything that we will come up against.”