NI women's boss Kenny Shiels braced for "pivotal" showdown in World Cup quest

Kenny Shiels expects Northern Ireland’s fate in qualifying for the Women’s World Cup to be decided in Friday’s “pivotal” fixture away to Austria.

The two sides go into the match level on 13 points, three behind unbeaten leaders England in Group D, separated by only a single goal in goal difference.

And though each side will still have three games to play after this – with both still to face England once more – Shiels said Friday’s fixture feels like the finale of the qualifying campaign given it is likely to determine which side makes it into the play-offs.

“This game is very much the pivotal point for us and for Austria,” he said.

“Both nations know that defeat would more or less put them out of the running for the runners-up spot and victory would put them on the verge of the play-offs. That’s how vital it is.

“We’re dead level, there’s one goal between us and that tells you it’s very, very tight within the group.”

After Friday’s match in Wiener Neustadt, Northern Ireland will head back to Belfast to play England at Windsor Park on Tuesday, with the final two qualifiers away to Luxembourg and Latvia scheduled for September after Euro 2022.

“I don’t want to be derogatory of the ones that are down the levels, but Latvia and Luxembourg, realistically without looking too far ahead we’ve a great chance of beating them,” Shiels said.

“If we can beat Austria it gives us that impetus to go into the final games and get a great reward.”

Goals from Demi Vance and Lauren Wade put Northern Ireland within seconds of beating Austria when they met at Seaview in October.

But a stoppage-time goal from Stefanie Enzinger snatched a crucial point for the visitors in a 2-2 draw.

As disappointing as the result was, Shiels said it gave his