Windsor Park sings along to 'Sweet Caroline' - my evening may have already peaked...

Image source, Reuters

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski in in good touch. Red-hot form.

The Bayern Munich man has scored 12 (twelve) goals in his last four games, including a remarkable five in nine minutes as a sub the other week.

David Marshall - you are in our thoughts...

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill: "I told them: You're not in control of the result but you are in control of your performance."

Chris Martin: Josh Magennis is more likely to play at Euro 2016 than Robin van Persie. Let that sink in.  

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Believe it Adrian, it happened!

We are closing in on kick-off around Europe now. The start of a very lengthy process to eliminate eight teams from next year's group stages starts here...

What has happened - in football, in sport, in life - that you never imagined possible?

Richard Atherton, Northwich: I never thought I'd see Louis van Gaal bringing his wine list , externalonto the Old Trafford pitch with his clipboard but I did!

Adrian Bennion: My club, little old Fulham, not only qualifying for Europe but making the Europa League final. Utterly unbelievable.

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Gerry Taggart
BBC Radio 5 live at Windsor Park

"It's 30 years since Northern Ireland qualified for a major tournament, they're playing against a team that is bottom of the group, that hasn't won a game, that's scored just two goals... but we all know they have slipped up in the past against teams of this calibre. 

"It will be important for Northern Ireland to make it as hostile as they can in the first 20 minutes, attack straight from the whistle."

Drink it in lads...

No guarantees Martin. I can't give you one.

Image source, Rex Features

What has happened - in football, in sport, in life - that you never imagined possible?

Tom Haymes: Never thought I'd see Hull City reach an FA Cup final, or qualify for Europe. 10 years previous we were in Div 3.  

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Sunderland's Steven Fletcher will play up front on his own, so there is no starting place for in-form Leigh Griffiths. Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie also starts, but there's no place in the starting XI for Shaun Maloney.

Former Scotland captain Willie Miller: "I think Steven Fletcher is the man to start with. I wouldn't have been unhappy if both of them (he and Leigh Griffiths) had played. Matt Ritchie is untried at this level. It's OK playing well for your club. I haven't seen him turn it on in the dark blue jersey so far. Steven Whittaker comes back and gets the nod. I think that is down to Gordon Strachan going for experience. It's going to take a big performance to get the full three points. Everybody is surprised that Shaun Maloney is not starting. He has been the talisman."

You can follow a separate live page on the Scotland match here.

Image source, Rex Features

BBC Sport NI's Richard Petrie at Windsor Park: "The atmosphere is starting to build inside Windsor Park with most fans adopting a mood of cautious optimism ahead of the potentially decisive Group F encounter.

"Those supporters who snapped up the extra 1,500 tickets put on sale last week within the space of three minutes will boost the capacity to 11,700 and increase the volume levels as the self-styled 'Green and White Army' attempt to help Michael O'Neill's men across the line."

Republic of Ireland face Group D leaders Germany at 19:45 BST. After that, it’s a final match against second-placed Poland on Sunday before they learn their Euro 2016 fate.

Scotland are champing at the bit behind them, however, and the Irish could still miss out on the third-place play-off spot. So, what exactly do they need to progress?

• Win against Germany and Martin O’Neill’s side are guaranteed the third-place play-off spot.
• Two draws would not be enough if Scotland win both their final matches - Gordon Strachan’s side have a superior head-to-head record.
• Two losses and the Irish would be relying on Scotland to also either lose one or both their matches.

Germany's front four v Ireland's back four is, dare I say, a mismatch.

It's Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze (both Bayern Munich) and Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) v Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh (both Derby County), John O'Shea (Sunderland) and Stephen Ward (Burnley).

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Michael O’Neill’s side are currently top of the Group F table on 17 points, but automatic qualification is not yet guaranteed.

They face competition from Romania on 16 points and, more crucially, Hungary on 13 points - both teams could push Northern Ireland into third. So, what are the permutations?

• Win one of their remaining fixtures, and Northern Ireland secure automatic qualification.
• Lose both matches and Northern Ireland are relying on Hungary to fail to beat both Faroe Islands and Greece.

"I've been watching NI for the last 15 years while working as a BBC summariser and never thought we could make a major tournament. It would be incredible."

BBC pundit and former Northern Ireland international John O'Neill never thought he would see his nation in a major finals again - keep the faith John!

Image source, Getty Images

But we want to know your tales of the unexpected. What has happened - in football, in sport, in life - that you never imagined possible?

England walking the Ashes Down Under? Usain Bolt breaking the 200m world record? Wigan winning the FA Cup? Twelve people making scones being the biggest TV show in the country?

Let us know. Text us on 81111, with your names please, or tweet us at #bbcfootball.

Start your messages with 'I never thought...

In the words of Barry Davies: "Look at his face! Just look at his face!"

If you haven't seen Roy Keane's answer to the above question yet - click here. Keane on Keane gold.

Robbie is not starting tonight.