Croatia v England buildup; tempers flare at Ireland v Israel press conference - as it happened
Northern Ireland's football team achieved a 3-0 victory over Ukraine in a Nations League match, maintaining their position at the top of their group. The team, noted for its young average age, delivered a dominant performance with goals from Ciaron Brown and Isaac Price.
Why it matters
The result is a significant milestone for a developing national squad and impacts the standings in the UEFA Nations League competition.
Michael O’Neill was delighted with his young Northern Ireland side after they stunned Ukraine 3-0 in Slovakia to move clear at the top of Nations League Group B2. Ciaron Brown scored his first two international goals either side of Isaac Price’s first-half header as Northern Ireland delivered a complete performance which can be another key marker in the development of this team.
Besides the 28-year-old Brown every player who started was 24 or younger, with this Northern Ireland’s youngest post-war starting eleven with an average age of just 22.
But they showed no fear playing away to a side ranked 37 places ahead of them in the world as they made it back-to-back away wins in this group, still yet to concede after their opening three matches.
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