Weir debut a positive in NI's Poland loss
The 18-year-old striker came off the bench with 16 minutes remaining as NI lost their opening Nations League game of 2025 to goals from Ewelina Kamczyk and Adriana Achcinska.
"I just said 'go and enjoy it'. You don't get that moment very often, or you only get it once, so she's earned it," Oxtoby said of Weir's international bow.
"She's gone on to the pitch, she's managed to sort of break the ice if you like, and that was the purpose of it for her, to get a feel for it and play probably with some of her idols I'd imagine as well.
"I'm really pleased for her and it shows the pathway and what we're trying to do here in terms of bringing players through."
Northern Ireland, who were captained by Rebecca McKenna in her 50th appearance for her country, conceded two goals in three first-half minutes against their Euro 2025-bound opponents in Gdansk.
Oxtoby's side looked more settled in possession in the second half - a positive the manager is taking into Tuesday's next Nations League game against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"We speak all the time that it's about the entire squad and you saw that again," Oxtoby added.
"It's really important from our point of view - and [it was a] much better second half from us as well so we're really looking forward to getting back home getting in front of our home fans."
Who is NI's 'unassuming but exciting' new striker Weir?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rashford wants move; Luis Diaz to Bayern; CWC shocks and more
Rashford wants move; Luis Diaz to Bayern; CWC shocks and more Stay up-to-date with all the goings on in the transfer market as well as action and reaction from the Club World Cup 2025-07-01T14:34:48Z Fenerbahçe and José Mourinho are making some serious moves in the market 2025-07-01T14:32:08Z Advertisement Girona have announced a first-team departure after five years. 2025-07-01T14:18:01Z Some news from the women's game, where Chelsea defender Ashley Lawrence is joining one of their European rivals 2025-07-01T14:09:08Z Surely it can't be long before this guy is moving ... 2025-07-01T14:02:19Z Kepa to Arsenal is confirmed ... 2025-07-01T14:00:03Z Fascinating comments from Romelu Lukaku about his Chelsea past. Read more here. 2025-07-01T13:57:01Z Ajax are keeping their goalkeeper for another year ... 2025-07-01T13:55:24Z A big happy birthday to Patrick Kluivert ... 2025-07-01T13:52:05Z Some news earlier of an exit at Celtic ... 2025-07-01T13:50:35Z Advertisement Kepa confirms his exit from Chelsea. He'll be joining Arsenal in the next few moments ... 2025-07-01T13:43:26Z Looks like Bernadeschi could be heading back to Italy after he was released by Toronto ... 2025-07-01T13:39:43Z Serie A sides will be heading to Saudi Arabia again before Christmas ... 2025-07-01T13:35:10Z How's it being back for pre-season after a summer away? 2025-07-01T13:32:57Z Interesting quotes from Alexia Putellas here ahead of EURO 2025. Read more. 2025-07-01T13:27:36Z A couple of exits at Sevilla ... 2025-07-01T13:23:55Z Milan are putting their hands in their pockets this summer ... 2025-07-01T13:21:32Z Advertisement A pair of Italian exits in Toronto ... 2025-07-01T13:17:11Z Not long now ... 2025-07-01T13:15:01Z Wonder what's set to go down later in the Club World Cup? Well wonder now more. 2025-07-01T13:11:23Z Hakan Calhanoglu looks destined to leave Inter but who will the Nerazzurri replace the Türkiye international with? Read more here. 2025-07-01T13:05:06Z Could Bayern fans be seeing this at the Allianz soon? 2025-07-01T13:01:43Z One for the future at Villa Park ... 2025-07-01T12:59:55Z It looks warm on the south coast ... 2025-07-01T12:57:31Z If you missed it last night, here at the highlights from Fluminense's brilliant win over Inter ... 2025-07-01T12:52:28Z Advertisement Nine years since the greatest day in Welsh football history ... 2025-07-01T12:41:45Z West Ham have had an offer rejected for El Hadji Malick Diouf ... 2025-07-01T12:32:01Z Liverpool's pursuit of a striker continues at pace ... 2025-07-01T12:28:23Z Some more on Eberchi Eze's potential move to Arsenal with this report from the Evening Standard. Read more here. 2025-07-01T12:23:18Z Marc Guehi to Liverpool? 2025-07-01T12:21:38Z Harvey Elliott's price has been set ... 2025-07-01T12:17:30Z Noni Madueke to Arsenal? 2025-07-01T12:15:16Z For more on Ansu Fati's move, you can read our story here. 2025-07-01T12:11:21Z Advertisement What do you think of this, Newcastle fans? 2025-07-01T12:08:16Z Ansu Fait completes his move to Monaco from Barcelona ... 2025-07-01T12:01:14Z Not long now, Milan fans ... 2025-07-01T12:00:46Z If you missed it a little earlier, here's Newcastle's new third shirt for the 2025/26 campaign ... 2025-07-01T11:53:05Z Newcastle United are among the clubs interested in signing Liverpool's Harvey Elliott this summer. 2025-07-01T11:42:28Z Bayern Munich are preparing their opening bid for Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade. 2025-07-01T11:23:51Z Everton Women duo Aurora Galli and Lucy Hope have signed new one-year deals with the club. 2025-07-01T11:15:59Z Advertisement Two Spanish giants are tracking Thomas Partey as Arsenal prepare Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard announcements. Read here. 2025-07-01T11:07:16Z Leeds United confirm Junior Firpo will leave the club upon the expiry of his contract. 2025-07-01T11:00:35Z Here's Dani Carvajal on his thoughts around the Club World Cup so far ... 2025-07-01T10:59:03Z Keith Andrews has been speaking after he became the Brentford boss last week ... 2025-07-01T10:58:16Z If you're keen to know more about EURO 2025, which starts tomorrow, here are our guides to ...Group CGroup D 2025-07-01T10:41:05Z Irish side Bohemians have teamed up with Oasis for this special kit ... 2025-07-01T10:33:02Z Advertisement Bad news for Hull ... 2025-07-01T10:32:04Z More on the Williams saga ... 2025-07-01T10:28:41Z Tottenham's move for Mohammed Kudus is getting real. Read more here. 2025-07-01T10:25:50Z A wild rumour coming out of France today ... 2025-07-01T10:25:27Z In case you missed it overnight, here are the highlights from Man City's defeat to Al Hilal ... 2025-07-01T10:22:27Z One of Athletic's directors has hit out at Deco over Barcelona's pursuit of Nico Williams ... "What Deco has done with Nico Williams is unnecessary, it is unheard of and I think it is terrible," Rafa Alkorta said. 2025-07-01T10:15:47Z Advertisement An unlikely move in the English lower leagues ... 2025-07-01T10:15:06Z Tammy Abraham's next move is all but confirmed ... 2025-07-01T10:09:55Z Great news for Wolves fans ... 2025-07-01T10:03:45Z Is Ollie Watkins about to swap Aston Villa for Manchester United? This great feature indicates why that could be a great move. 2025-07-01T09:58:07Z What happened at the Club World Cup overnight? Take a look at our Debrief here. 2025-07-01T09:55:05Z We start with Marcus Rashford who apparently wants a move away from England this summer ... 2025-07-01T09:54:42Z Morning everyone and welcome to Tuesday's daily live blog where we'll be keeping you up-to-date with everything going on in the world of football.
Associated Press
5 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Sundhage anticipates 'fantastic future' for women's soccer in Switzerland on eve of Euro 2025
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage says the country has a 'fantastic future' in women's soccer thanks to several young players hoping to make their mark at the European Championship. The 18-year-old Barcelona forward Sydney Schertenleib is arguably the best known, but there are others as well. Fellow forward Iman Beney was signed by Manchester City last month, and midfielder Noemi Ivelj's performances for Zurich Grasshoppers prompted Eintracht Frankfurt to sign her for the Bundesliga. Both players are only 18. Forward Leila Wandeler, 19, was a surprise call-up by Sundhage after making her breakthrough at Lyon last season. 'Switzerland has a fantastic future,' Sundhage said Tuesday on the eve of the team's Euro 2025 opener against Norway. 'If you look at those players … the future is really great. Now we're just in the mix, so the younger players probably lean a little bit to the experienced players. Both the young players and the most experienced players are important to make that winning mix sauce.' Swedish coach Sundhage, now 65, can herself draw on a wealth of experience to get the best from both sets of players as Switzerland looks for just its second tournament win. Switzerland defeated Iceland 2-1 at Euro 2017 and otherwise drew two games and lost three in its previous appearances. Asked why, after successful stints in charge of the United States and Sweden, she decided to take charge of a 'smaller team' when she took the Switzerland job last year, Sundhage replied it was because of the thrill of preparing the team for Euro 2025. 'Playing the European Championship is something special,' she said. 'It's so much more than a football game. Because everything we've done and the federation have done up to now, using fantastic role models, it's a part of the women's football. And we haven't even played a game yet.' ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
9 minutes ago
- Associated Press
'The disappointment is huge:' Cuban women's volleyball team denied US visa to compete in Puerto Rico
HAVANA, Cuba (AP) — The Cuban women's national volleyball team was denied a chance to play in a tournament in Puerto Rico following the new visa restrictions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Cuban Volleyball Federation said last week that the team, comprising 12 athletes, a referee, and several coaches, had their visa request denied and will be unable to attend the tournament later this month. 'The disappointment is huge because I train every day, every hour of training is leading up to this and dedicate myself to it,' national team player Laura Suarez told The Associated Press. 'It's really disappointing not to be able to participate in the competition, which is what I've been preparing myself for.(asterisk) Cuba was scheduled to play in the NORCECA Women's Final Four tournament in Manatí, Puerto Rico. The tournament includes the host nation, Mexico and Costa Rica and it awards ranking points toward qualification for the Volleyball Nations League. 'We were focused on the competition because it's right there,' said Dayana Martínez, another player. 'Arriving at the embassy and being denied the visa affects us a lot because that competition gives us points to improve our ranking,' The Cuban team's coach, Wilfredo Robinson, said the decision means his team is likely to miss out on the Nations League. 'The competition grants points for each match and at the end it all adds up,' Robinson said. 'In September we have another tournament and if we get there needing to achieve 80 or 100 points we are not going to be able to do it.' The United States added Cuba to a list of 12 countries with restrictions for entering the U.S. or its territories, effective from early June. It includes nationals from Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo, Iran, Venezuela, and other nations. 'Denial of visas is part of a racist and xenophobic list of visa restrictions,' Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez wrote on his X account. In a message sent to The Associated Press, the U.S. Embassy in Cuba stated that, according to its privacy policies, it could not comment on specific cases but that directives were being implemented to secure the borders and protect U.S. communities and citizens. The Cuban women's national team won back-to-back world championships in 1994 and 1998. It also won three Olympic golds in a row in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000. The U.S. measures are likely to impact many more Cuban athletes who depend on international competitions, including some on American soil to qualify for major championships and the next Olympics scheduled to be played in Los Angeles in 2028. ___ AP Volleyball:
