Gerry Armstrong
Former Northern Ireland striker

"The mood in the camp was always good. The camaraderie in the Northern Ireland team was fantastic, everyone got on well with each other and we were all mates.

"We worked hard and we had a fair amount of success. To qualify for the World Cup was something special for us all. We didn't want to miss the boat, we wanted to make sure we performed as well as we could.

"There was no real pressure on us, I thought all the pressure was on Spain as the host nation and the team that had to achieve. So all the pressure was on them and none on us."

John Motson
BBC commentator at Estadio Luis Casanova

"It's worth noting that tonight's referee has never before taken charge of a match between European sides. He told me that the only English speaking team he's taken charge of before was the New York Cosmos in the United States. There are still question marks then against the referees and Fifa's appointments."

Northern Ireland have a free-kick already. Jimmy Nicholl hits it into the box but it's cleared.

Spain counter-attack and Miguel Alonso shoots wide of Pat Jennings's post.

A lively start in Valencia.

Spain get us under way...

John Motson
BBC commentator at Estadio Luis Casanova

"There is a a frightening fanaticism in the Luis Casanova stadium. It's built like a huge drum. An absolutely feverish following for Spain. It's party time out in the streets but it's very serious for Spain's manager Jose Santamaria, whose reputation hangs on how they do at the World Cup."

Gerry Armstrong
Former Northern Ireland striker

"I believed we could win the game - we actually had more belief than other people because most people had written us off.

"We'd drawn our first two games, we were disappointed to draw with Honduras, we thought we should have beaten them.

"We drew the game against Yugoslavia which was a tough one so we were undefeated and we knew we were a very side for anyone to play against. I was confident that we could beat them but we knew it was a tall order."

Andrew:, external Can't get a bookies to take a bet on Armstrong first to score...

Garth Crooks
Tottenham striker

"Northern Ireland have a hell of a job to do. I have played under similar circumstances in Barcelona, in the Cup Winners' Cup, and when the crowd starts to get at you it can be very difficult. I have to echo Lawrie's sentiments and say: I just can't see them getting a win tonight."

Spain: Arconada; Gordillo, Tendillo, Alesanco, Camacho; Alonso, Saura, Sanchez; Juanito, Satrustegui, Ufarte. Subs: Quini, Gallego.

N. Ireland: Jennings; J. Nicholl, Donaghy, McClelland, C. Nicholl; McCreery, O'Neill, McIlroy, Whiteside; Armstrong, Hamilton. Subs: Cassidy, Nelson.

Referee: Hector Ortiz (Paraguay)

Spain coach Jose Santamaria has named his team, he makes one change - Enrique Saura, who scored after coming on against Yugoslavia, comes into midfield for Jesus Maria Zamora, who has a knee injury.

Lawrie McMenemy
Southampton manager

"Northern Ireland are such a tiny soccer nation they have won to get here really. Spain have done so badly and have had so much stick even from their own supporters that I think Ireland could just get the backlash tonight. I can see them possibly getting a draw. I would love them to win it but I can't see it."

There's been a bit of chat from the BBC pundits about video technology.

Jimmy Hill, who is in Valencia, says: "There is an artificial aid the referee could use tonight. There is a replay board - it would be possible for the referee if he wished, and if Fifa would allow it, to have a replay of an incident on that board and then make a decision. I wonder how many years it's going to be before that comes into the game."

But Southampton boss Lawrie McMenemy is not convinced: "Asking people to use big screens, it's not going to happen. If it was going to happen it would be in America. They've tried it there, they've tried stopping the game for commercial breaks and so on. It won't work. The referee has to be in charge."

You can watch that back in the tab above us in a minute.

John Motson
BBC World Cup Grandstand commentator

"Sitting here in the stadium tonight, you have to say the task facing Northern Ireland is monumental."

Neal, London: Couldn't get flights to Valencia but 30 of us gathered in a central London pub eagerly awaiting kick off. Just bought this on 7" record... "I'm yer man, I'm yer man, and I'll be in the stands, cheering Northern Ireland to do the best they can...." M'on Norn Iron!!

Derek, Writtle: I tell you one thing - if Ireland do get their noses in front Spain will just lose their heads and start kicking everything in sight.

Kevin, Epsom: Luis Arconada is such a great 'keeper that it'll take something really special to beat him tonight. The man simply doesn't make mistakes.

Image source, Getty Images

Striker Billy Hamilton told BBC Northern Ireland: "Billy Bingham was very good at motivating players. He would make you feel 10 feet tall when you went onto the pitch. He never made you feel second best. He had a very good tactical plan.

"He knew that if we could swamp the midfield that would stop the Spaniards passing through us and getting into the box.

"If they got into the box he knew they would dive and try and get penalties and that and if you watch the game again you will see most of the defending was done just outside our box.

"He just told us to feed on the crumbs we would get a chance during the games and hopefully we would take it and that's what Gerry Armstrong did."

Phillip:, external We have exceeded expectations getting to this stage with a chance but the party ends tonight. Shame George wasn't here.

Spain manager Jose Santamaria: "From what I've seen of them, they defend well and Whiteside, Armstrong and McIlroy look threatening."

Northern Ireland manager Billy Bingham: "Spain are basically a counter attack team so to go forward with all flags flying would be a mistake.

"We'll look at them for a while and then start to go forward a bit more. We finished strongly against Yugoslavia in 100 degrees and in 95 degrees in our second game, which seemed to tire them even more.

"It's taken us two days to recover but I am happy to say we are ready again and looking forward to a good battle with Spain."

Former professional keeper, and now BBC presenter, David Icke has just given a ticketless Northern Ireland fan a golden ticket for tonight's game.

What a nice, level-headed guy.

Northern Ireland captain Martin O'Neill: "Let me put it this way, we would be very disappointed to come off the field at nil each.

"We would rather come off losing two or three and having attacked them. That seems like a paradox but a goalless draw does us no good."