Nice rousing effort from Malta there with the home fans waving red and white flags.

Formalities done and dusted. Time for kick off.

Strong effort with every player singing the words and it gets a round of applause from the traveling fans. Ten out of 10, lads.

Now, the Malta anthem.

It's also national anthems time in the conveniently named San Marino Stadium.

Jordan Henderson leads the England players out onto the pitch on what is a clear and warm evening in Malta.

The players then line up and link arms for the national anthem.

App users may need to click on the above to view the tweet.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill told BBC Sport: "It’s been a short week for us, playing on Friday rather than Saturday.

"The main thing is we do the job, come through unscathed injury and suspension-wise. We have a couple of players on cards who have to be careful.

"Then we’ll look on Monday’s game [at home to the Czech Republic] but all our focus is on San Marino and making sure we get three points."

Want the lowdown on Northern Ireland's opponents? San Marino, a landlocked nation in Italy, have lost all but five matches in their history since their 1990 debut.

Their only win came in a friendly against fellow minnows Liechtenstein in 2004.

They have drawn four games - against Turkey, Latvia and Estonia in World Cup qualifying, and against Liechtenstein in another friendly.

In 2007, they were seconds away from a Euro 2008 qualifying draw with the Republic of Ireland.

The 204th best team in the world's last three games? 6-0, 8-0 and 7-0 defeats.

Image source, Reuters

A lovely touch here from the Malta FA.

App users might need to click the link to view this content.

QPR striker Conor Washington says international football suits his game as he prepares to win his 11th cap.

The 25-year-old, who was born in England, only made his Northern Ireland debut last year and has scored three goals so far.

"I’ve really enjoyed it," Washington told BBC Sport.

"You get a lot more time – everyone wants to play football, which is very different to the Championship. My game seems to suit international football, so long may that continue.

"It was great to get my first qualification goal in Norway. It would be unbelievable to get a career-defining goal, because the prize is so big."

Being called up for your country for the first time. It's a proud moment for any footballer and it is a moment that Leicester defender Harry Maguire recently got to experience after he got the call from Gareth Southgate.

However, his inclusion in the England squad has also resulted in a ticking off by his mum.

Maguire rocked up to training at St George's recently clutching a couple of binbags and looking like a student on his first day at University.

“I’ve seen that on Twitter with the bags," said Maguire. "It was just full of boots and shin pads and dirty stuff, which I’ll give the kit man. My Mum mentioned it. She gave me a text later on saying what’s with the bags? It was just a bit of fun."

Image source, Twitter/England

Want to get the thoughts of the 5 live gang ahead of the game? Click on the above to hear what former England skipper Terry Butcher and 5 live commentator John Murray have to say.

Image source, .

Gareth Southgate has a great chance to record his first away win as England manager tonight. The Three Lions have won their last four meetings with Malta, scoring 10 goals along the way.

No one will be happier with that scoring statistic than Harry Kane. The Tottenham striker has never scored in August in his career and since today is 1 September, he'll be desperate to get among the goals today.

There are five other European World Cup qualifying games on tonight. The Czech Republic, who trail Northern Ireland by four points in Group C, host Germany, who are five points above NI.

Norway and Azerbaijan, who are both lower down in the table, face off.

Slovakia host Slovenia in the countries with similar names derby. Both those sides separate England and Scotland in Group F. The Slovaks are only two points behind England.

In Group E, Romania host Armenia. Neither side are really in contention to go to Russia, so don't expect too much chat about that game here.

Czech Republic v Germany - 19:45

Norway v Azerbaijan - 19:45

Denmark v Poland - 19:45

Romania v Armenia - 19:45

Slovakia v Slovenia - 19:45

Image source, Reuters

Northern Ireland: McGovern, Brunt, Hughes, C McLaughlin, J Evans, Magennis, Davis, Norwood, Dallas, Washington, Lafferty. Subs: Carroll, C Evans, McCartan, Mannus, McGinn, McLaughlin, Lafferty, Thompson, Ferguson, Paton, Flanagan, Hodson.

San Marino: A Simoncini, D Simoncini, Biordi, Palazzi, Bonini, Cervellini, Grandoni, Battistini, Berardi, Rinaldi, Bernardi. Subs: Cevoli, Muraccini, Vitaioli, Gasperoni, D'Addario, Tosi, Tomassini, Stefanelli, Cesarini, Golinucci, Berretti, Manzaroli.

One of San Marino's starters, Danilo Rinaldi, has scored an international goal.

If Northern Ireland win tonight, it will be the first time in their history they have won four consecutive matches.

Their last three games have been wins over Norway, New Zealand and Azerbaijan.

They have kept clean sheets in all those matches. Another tonight will be their best run of clean sheets since 1986 (when they kept six in a row).

Image source, .

Stoke and Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "I think Jack Butland is the best goalkeeper. And, as England are playing two sides they should beat comfortably, why not give him or the next keeper after Joe Hart the chance to play in two World Cup qualifiers?"

Not quite sure most people are on the same line of thinking as Gareth Southgate on Joe Hart...

Andy Roberts: Pickford and Butland are far better than this liability!

James Agar: No - poor form for West Ham, also was terrible last season.

Funkycoolers: He's not even the best goalkeeper at west ham.

Northern Ireland came to San Marino yesterday with star defender Jonny Evans unsure which club he would be returning to after the international break.

The 29-year-old West Brom defender was a target for Manchester City, but they did not come in with a deadline-day bid, because they could not sell Eliaquim Mangala to Crystal Palace.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill says that Evans was always going to come to San Marino with the team.

"I don’t think that was ever going to not happen," he told BBC Sport on deadline day - when it was still thought City might come in for him.

"Jonny had it in his mind that he wanted to travel. The onus is on whatever club agrees a deal, it's their issue with how they would do that deal."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Twitter/England

Sam Magri does indeed start for Malta against England tonight. Here he is catching up with his former Young Lions team-mate Nathaniel Chalobah.