The 7-0 aggregate defeat by Norway in the Euro 2025 play-offs showed that Europe’s elite are on a different level, and the two Nations League games with Poland suggested there’s work to do to close the gap to the best of the rest too.
However, in the autumn they will get another opportunity to try and bridge that gap in a promotion play-off.
They will be drawn against either Iceland, Denmark, Belgium or Austria, and will have nothing to lose as the underdogs – a tag which has suited Northern Ireland well in the past.
“They would be really tough games. Iceland might be a team we would hope to get, but all four of them are League A teams who have qualified for major tournaments in recent years,” Callaghan added.
“We’ve played Austria and we know what they are capable of, but you can only take it one game at a time.
“Tanya and her team will make sure they do their homework on the opposition and set up accordingly.”
Even if the step up to League A is out of reach in the autumn, Callaghan doesn’t necessarily believe that staying in their current tier would be a bad outcome.
“We’re bringing a lot of youth into the squad and there are so many players who have less than 10 caps or just come out of the Under-19s.
“So, to expect them to go up to League A and compete, I think it’s a little bit too much to ask.
“We have a few 30-year-olds in terms of experience. Listen, League B has been a good league for us and it’s been challenging for us.”