Women’s Nations League: What do Northern Ireland need in Group B1?

Northern Ireland’s fate is still in their own hands heading into the final fixture.

That is largely down to their dramatic 3-2 win over the Bosnians at Inver Park in February.

In short, avoiding defeat in Zenica would be enough to secure second place and not bring any further permutations into play.

However, if Tanya Oxtoby’s side were to lose on Tuesday, then we start moving down the checklist of tiebreakers.

While in other competitions it is goal difference that splits the sides, in the Nations League there is different criteria.

If teams are level on points, the first determining factor is the number of points in the matches between the sides.

In the event Bosnia-Herzegovina win, then it would be a victory apiece and goal difference in the two matches would be the determining factor.

If the Bosnians were to win by a two-goal margin or more then they would leapfrog Northern Ireland.

If things are still level after that, it comes down to goals scored in the two matches.

In the unlikely event the two sides cannot be separated at this point, which would only occur with a 3-2 win by the hosts, then overall goal difference in all six matches comes into play.

Bosnia-Herzegovina currently hold the advantage here on minus three, one better off than Northern Ireland.

As we said, the cleanest outcome is Northern Ireland win or draw on Tuesday, but the Nations League is known for its drama and there will be plenty of tension in the game.