Euro 2022: Callaghan fighting fit and ready to go
Northern Ireland v Norway (8pm)
"We don't want this to be our first and last major tournament."
The words of Marissa Callaghan ahead of tonight's momentous opening match for her Northern Ireland side at Euro 2022.
The Cliftonville midfielder had been struggling with a toe injury in the build up to the tournament, but the 36-year-old - such a towering leader for Kenny Shiels' side - has been declared fit for action against Norway at Southampton's St Mary's stadium.
Callaghan is part of the old guard - along with the likes of Julie Nelson, Sarah McFadden and Ashley Hutton - who have been involved with the national team since the dark days when she herself admits 'we couldn't get games, we struggled for players and we went through this struggle of loving a game that there weren't that many opportunities for'.
Tonight sees the culmination off years of hard work and dedication that has been fast forwarded since current manager Shiels arrived to take over.
While Northern Ireland are comfortably the lowest-ranked out of the 16 teams competing in England, that underdogs tag has always been accepted - and almost encouraged - by the management, squad and the ever-growing support for the Women's team.
As they kick-off the first of their three group games - all being played on the English south coast - coming up against two of the most feared forwards in the game in Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen, little will be expected from Northern Ireland from outside the camp.
Inside it thought, Shiels has instilled a belief in his squad that they are fit to compete with the best in the world.
That will be put to the test this evening and in the following games against Austria and hosts England.