Northern Ireland manager Michael McArdle expressed optimism following his team's 7-1 aggregate loss to Portugal in the play-off. He described the defeat as "the start of a new identity" for the team, emphasizing the positive aspects of their performance despite the heavy scoreline.

In the first leg at Inver Park, Portugal established a dominant lead, but Kess Elmore gave Northern Ireland hope with an early goal in the second leg in Portimao. Despite Elmore's strike, Portugal came back to win 3-1 on the night.

McArdle noted:

I'm really proud with the brave style of play, but we have got to be patient moving forward.

• He highlighted the successful integration of new players during the camp, stating, "Now, I feel the profile of players, the energy they are bringing, the effort that they are putting in..."
• He added, "This is the start of a new move forward and a new identity."

The manager showcased his commitment to expanding the squad's depth by giving debuts to four players during the double-header against Portugal. Elmore's goal marked her as the second debutant to score under McArdle, following Emily Cassap.

Despite missing key players like Simone Magill, Laura Rafferty, Nadene Caldwell, and Caragh Hamilton, McArdle believes the squad has set a "real enthusiastic marker" for the future. He acknowledged the challenges faced during the matches but maintained pride in their style of play, stating, "We're playing a risky style of football" and insisted on the need for more energy and versatility moving forward.