New Northern Ireland boss Michael McArdle has made a strong start with two wins in his first two games in charge. The Scottish manager guided his team to a 4-0 victory over Malta at home before securing a 4-2 away win. These results move Northern Ireland one point behind Turkey in Group B2 of the World Cup qualification campaign, putting them in a favorable position for a playoff spot.

McArdle's emphasis on improving the "final third aspect" has paid dividends with six different players finding the net across both matches. Keri Halliday scored twice in her first international appearance, while Ellie Mason, Nat Johnson, and Leyla McFarland also marked their first goals for the country. The team's switch to a more direct 4-3-3 system has yielded positive results, with eight goals scored - more than in the entire previous year.

Despite the impressive attacking displays, defensive concerns remain after conceding two poor goals against Malta. Rebecca McKenna has been handed the captaincy in both matches, suggesting she may be the permanent choice in Simone Magill's absence. McArdle now faces tougher tests against Turkey and Switzerland in June, where his side will need to tighten up defensively to build on these promising foundations.