Northern Ireland name 23-man EURO squad
Saturday, May 28, 2016
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Northern Ireland have announced their final squad of 23 players for UEFA EURO 2016 to the backdrop of Giant's Causeway, with Will Grigg and Lee Hodson getting the nod.
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Northern Ireland squad for UEFA EURO 2016
Goalkeepers: Mannus (St Johnstone), McGovern (Hamilton), Carroll (Notts County).
Defenders: Cathcart (Watford), J Evans (West Brom), McAuley (West Brom), McCullough (Doncaster), McLaughlin (Fleetwood), Hodson (MK Dons), Hughes (Melbourne City), McNair (Manchester United), Baird (Derby County).
Midfielders: Davis (Southampton), Norwood, (Reading), C Evans, (Blackburn Rovers), Ferguson (Millwall), Dallas (Leeds United), McGinn (Aberdeen), Ward (Nottingham Forest).
Forwards: K Lafferty (Norwich City), Washington (QPR), Magennis (Kilmarnock), Grigg (Wigan Athletic).
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has announced his final 23-man squad for UEFA EURO 2016, with Wigan striker Will Grigg and MK Dons full-back Lee Hodson both getting the nod.
Grigg, who scored in Friday night's 3-0 friendly win over Belarus, beat Liam Boyce and Billy McKay to the final striker berth. Hodson, meanwhile, was preferred to Michael Smith and Daniel Lafferty at full-back.
Boyce, McKay, Smith, Daniel Lafferty and midfielder Ben Reeves are the five who miss out from the original squad of 28 players. O'Neill informed the players on Wednesday if they would be involved in Northern Ireland's first appearance in a major tournament since 1986.
"It was a hard choice between Will Grigg and Liam Boyce," O'Neill said at Saturday's squad announcement in Belfast. "Will just kept on scoring - 28 goals for his team and helping them to promotion. While it was difficult decision, I think it was the right one."
Northern Ireland's Group C fixtures
12/06: Poland v Northern Ireland, Nice
16/06: Ukraine v Northern Ireland, Lyon
21/06: Northern Ireland v Germany, Paris