Summary

  • NI squander chances to win

  • Northern Ireland remain one point off top

  • Not reached major tournament since 1986

  1. Postpublished at 20:01 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    It might by a huge match for Northern Ireland but no sign of nerves from the Green and White Army. A corner by Oliver Norwood finds Chris Brunt but the West Brom man's goal-bound volley strikes a yellow shirt.

  2. David versus Goliathpublished at 19:58 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Adam PriestleyImage source, Getty Images

    You remember in the early rounds of the FA Cup, where you get tales of teachers and builders taking on the professionals? Well it is like that with Gibraltar versus Germany tonight.

    Adam Priestley, a teacher at a school in West Yorkshire, starts as the lone striker against the world champions. He had to get permission for time off school to play as well.

  3. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 19:57 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Nick Bruzon: It's not just about Northern Ireland tonight. Could Gibraltar cause THE upset at home to Germany?

  4. Postpublished at 19:56 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Northern Ireland fans making a dinImage source, PA

    There's only 10,000 inside Windsor Park because of rebuilding work but those fortunate to get hold of a ticket are making a real din. The noise levels rise further as the hosts win a corner.

  5. Postpublished at 19:53 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    A mistake by Laszlo Sepsi and Kyle Lafferty is rampaging forward. The Norwich striker sprints into the Romania area and he is about the pull the trigger... when he clips himself and tumbles to the ground. Northern Ireland will hope that's not a sign of things to come.

  6. Postpublished at 19:51 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Danny Wilson
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

    "A little bit of a cagey start from both teams. There is a lot of traffic in the middle of the park and neither side are committing men forward too much."

  7. Postpublished at 19:50 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    The sun's out but it's a blustery night in Belfast. It's not helping the hosts. They've yet to settle and it's the yellow-shirted visitors who are threatening an early breakthrough.

  8. Postpublished at 19:48 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Early free-kick to Romania 35 yards out and number 13 Claudio Keseru is going to have a crack. Up he steps... and it whistles narrowly wide of Michael McGovern's post.

  9. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:45 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Northern Ireland's biggest home game in 30 years is under way. Euro 2016 is tantalisingly close.

  10. LINE-UPSpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Romania fansImage source, @officialirishfa

    Northern Ireland: McGovern, C McLaughlin, J Evans, McAuley, Brunt, Baird, Davis, Norwood, Lafferty, Dallas, Ward.

    Romania: Tatarusanu, Sepsi, Chiriches, Grigore, Papp, Torje, Prepelița, Chipciu, Pintilii, Maxim, Keseru.

  11. "Most important game in years"published at 19:42 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Danny Wilson
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

    "Michael O'Neill should get a lot of credit for this. He has given the team belief. They are not blessed with big names as a lot of them are from the lower leagues. They have done brilliantly so far in qualifying and this is their most important game for many years."

  12. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 19:41 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Belfast boxer Carl Frampton: Three points tonight please lads. Green & White Army.

    The Green and White Army is in full cry as the teams emerge from the tunnel on a glorious sunny evening in Belfast.

  13. "Northern Ireland in a great position"published at 19:38 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Former Northern Ireland winger Keith Gillespie: "Northern Ireland are full of confidence at the moment and in a position that we could not have envisaged. It would not be the be all or end all if the result did not go our way against Romania. If they don't qualify, it will be something they regret for the rest of their lives."

  14. Lucky 13?published at 19:34 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Romania forward Claudiu KeseruImage source, Getty Images

    The number 13 is unlucky for many but Romania forward Claudiu Keseru is hoping it proves lucky for his country in Belfast. "We play on 13 June, we have 13 points and my lucky shirt number is 13. Go Romania," he announced on his Facebook page., external

  15. From Chasing Cars to chasing footballspublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Gary LightbodyImage source, .

    He's made a fortune from the single "Chasing Cars" but Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody was chasing footballs this week after fulfilling a boyhood dream by training with the Northern Ireland squad.

    "I got to play at Windsor Park with a Northern Ireland top on and the kick a ball about with the lads," Lightbody told BBC Sport. "It's something I have dreamed about since I was a boy.

    "I still have a dream of playing for Northern Ireland. But people don't need to worry...there's no chance I'm going to get a game! The Romania game is my birthday night out. I'm 39 on Monday."

    After training, Lightbody played impromptu gig for the team. Now that's a pretty cool way of preparing for a big match.

    Watch the full interview with Gary Lighbody on the BBC Sport website.

  16. "McGovern has done well"published at 19:27 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Former Northern Ireland winger Keith Gillespie on keeper Michael McGovern: "It is going to be difficult. When you are making your competitive debut, there is a lot of scrutiny, especially as a goalkeeper. Michael McGovern has done well in his three friendlies but was the obvious choice when Roy Carroll was not going to be fit. The back four are very settled and protect him well."

  17. "We've got to keep momentum going"published at 19:24 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Michael O'NeillImage source, .

    What an incredible turnaround by Michael O'Neill. Under his watch, Northern Ireland plummeted to 129th in Fifa's rankings in September 2012. Now they are within reach of their first major tournament since the 1986 Mexico World Cup.

    O'Neill, however, is keen to play down tonight's game.

    "I don't see this game as being any more significant than the game against Finland in March," he said. "We got off to a good start in the campaign and we've kept that momentum going."

  18. Postpublished at 19:21 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    BBC Sport's Joel Taggart: Only previous time Northern Ireland played Romania in a competitive game in Belfast the match was played in front of a new stand and NI won 3-2.

  19. Windsor Park's new lookpublished at 19:20 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Windsor ParkImage source, .

    Work has been going on round the clock to get Windsor Park ready after the West Stand was demolished when cracks were spotted following the Euro qualifier win over Finland in March.

    All 10,000 available tickets have been sold with nearly 4,000 seats put into the new East Stand and the South stand over the past few weeks.

  20. Postpublished at 19:19 British Summer Time 13 June 2015

    Northern Ireland v RomaniaImage source, @OfficialIrishFA

    Former Hull City and Northern Ireland winger Stuart Elliott: Let's be sure to stand up for the Ulster men tonight. Wishing the boys all the best.

    Former Newcastle and Northern Ireland winger Keith Gillespie: Hopefully another memorable night ahead.