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Albania could qualify for their first ever major international tournament tonight, but that's just one of several intriguing stories surrounding their home match against Serbia.

The reverse fixture in Belgrade in October last year was abandoned after a drone carrying a political message was flown into the stadium, prompting a violent crowd disturbance and a brawl between players in Belgrade. 

On Thursday as the Serbia team bus arrived in Tirana, stones were thrown and a window was cracked, and tonight there will be 2,000 police officers in attendance, despite the Serbian Football Federation saying no plans have been made for their fans to travel.

And the latest twist in the saga? Ismail Morinaj, the man who flew the drone into Serbia's stadium in Belgrade last year, was one of three arrests made by Albanian police in the build-up to the game...

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Sporting immortality is the reward for a Northern Ireland match-winner against Greece, according to former manager Nigel Worthington.

Victory would clinch qualification for Euro 2016 and a first major tournament appearance since 1986.

"There's a wonderful chance for someone to make themselves a hero - the player who scores the winner will be held in high esteem forever," said Worthington.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill makes four changes to the side that defeated Georgia 1-0 on 7 September. In come Derby defenders Cyrus Christie and Richard Keogh, Burnley defender Stephen Ward and Ipswich forward Daryl Murphy.

Republic of Ireland XI: Given, Christie, Keogh, O Shea, Ward, McCarthy, Hendrick, Walters, Hoolahan, Brady, Murphy.

Two changes for world champions Germany from the side that won 3-2 against Scotland at Hampden Park on 7 September.

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is injured while there is no place for Liverpool defender Emre Can. In come Borussia Dortmund defender Matthias Ginter and his club team-mate Marco Reus.

Germany XI: Neuer, Ginter, Boateng, Hummels, Hector, Ozil, Kroos, Gundogan, Reus, Gotze, Muller.

As well as Northern Ireland, Germany, Poland, Albania, Denmark, Romania and Portugal could book their place at Euro 2016 this evening.

We shall endeavour to keep you abreast of all the ramifications as we go along...

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The ins and outs of qualification is a bit of a hornet's nest at this stage but we've wrapped it all up for you here.

Have a butcher's.

The teams definitely, 100%, book-your-hotel there so far are:

France

England

Iceland

Czech Republic

Austria

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BBC Sport's Lyle Jackson: Northern Ireland go into their crucial game without four first-choice players - injured defender Jonny Evans and suspended trio Kyle Lafferty, Chris Baird and Conor McLaughlin.

Kilmarnock's Josh Magennis is handed the task of filling the boots of striker Lafferty whose seven goals in the campaign have put Northern Ireland on the brink of qualification. It is a first competitive start for the 25-year-old, who was on the bench for Cardiff as a goalkeeper just a few years ago!

Watford's Craig Cathcart comes in for Evans in the centre of defence while Paddy McNair of Manchester United is also drafted into the back four.

Jamie Ward of Nottingham Forest is recalled to the team and is likely to play an attacking midfield role, supporting front man Magennis.

Team: McGovern, Brunt, Cathcart, McAuley, McNair, Norwood, C Evans, Davis, Dallas, Ward, Magennis.

BBC Radio 5 Live

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BBC Radio 5 live begins its build-up to tonight's Euro 2016 qualifiers from 19:00 BST. 

Full match commentary of Northern Ireland v Greece follows from 19:45, or you can switch over to BBC Radio 5 live sports extra to listen to Scotland v Poland from the same time. 

Alternatively you can listen to either commentary online by using the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page.

Republic of Ireland midfielder David Meyler seems to have based his pre-match preparations for facing the world champions on Dad's Army.

When asked about facing Manchester United's Bastian Schweinsteiger, Meyler said:

"Bastian Schweinsteiger has done it for a long time at the top level - he's won a hundred and odd caps, he's won a World Cup, he's won the Champions League, he's won several Bundesliga titles, so you look at players like him and you aspire to be like that.

"But at the end of the day, if you are given an opportunity to play against him, I have got to get the better of him.

"A lot of [Germans] don't like physicality, but that's just the way it is.

"We have grown up here and it's a bit different - a lot of us probably played GAA as kids, so we understand the knocks and bumps come.

"They like to get the ball down and pass it, they don't like too much contact, so we need to get into their faces and make it tough for them."

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Northern Ireland can qualify tonight - but they are far from being the only show in town.

Here's a rundown of tonight's games:

Georgia 3-0 Gibraltar - Latest - 17:00 kick-off

Albania v Serbia - 19:45

Portugal v Denmark - 19:45

Hungary v Faroe Islands - 19:45

Northern Ireland v Greece - 19:45

Romania v Finland - 19:45

Republic of Ireland v Germany - 19:45

Scotland v Poland - 19:45

Unless you are in your mid 30s or older, you will not have had the pleasure of witnessing the sight of Northern Ireland in a major championship.

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Northern Ireland made it to the quarter-finals of the 1982 World Cup in Spain and also qualified for the finals in Mexico four years later - their last big summer tournament so far...

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Hamilton Academical. Melbourne City.

Fleetwood Town. Luton.

Ross County. Kilmarnock.

Northern Ireland's squad may be drawn up from some of football's less glamorous spots (and Melbourne), with superstars thin on the ground, but Michael O'Neill's group of men are now just a win away from securing a place at the Euro 2016 finals in France.

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Tonight Northern Ireland face a hapless Greece side who find themselves in the unenviable position of being three points behind the Faroe Islands at the foot of Group F. Greece haven't won a competitive game since the World Cup.

History beckons...