Summary

  • Late Magennis strike earns Northern Ireland win

  • NI on six points after two matches

  • Result: Netherlands 2-3 Germany

  • Last-gasp Schulz winner after Dutch fought back from 2-0 down

  • Sane & Gnabry with Germany's other goal, De Ligt & Depay score for Dutch

  • Result: Cyprus 0-2 Belgium (Hazard, Batshuayi)

  1. Same againpublished at 19:43 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus

    Just a quick reminder of the Northern Ireland line-up and it is the same again as Michael O'Neill names an unchanged line-up for the first time since Euro 2016.

    Northern Ireland v BelarusImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland v Belarus

    Substitutes: Michael McGovern (GK), Conor Hazard (GK), Conor McLaughlin, Gareth McAuley, Liam Boyce, Shane Ferguson, Jordan Thompson, Tom Flanagan, Aaron Hughes, Conor Washington, Josh Magennis, Paul Smyth

  2. The fans are making Sweet musicpublished at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    The Green and White Army traditionally leave it late to fill up Windsor, especially those in the Kop - the most vocal section.

    But we are close to a full house now, Sweet Caroline is playing and the fans are in full voice for the players coming out.

    There's optimism in the air and in the stands.

    It's over to the players, now.

    Another three points, please.

  3. Teams outpublished at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Some rousing Uefa-issue strings greet the teams as they stroll out to Windsor Park.The surface looks slick after a bit of rain.

    Anthem time...

  4. Elsewherepublished at 19:35 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Netherlands v Germany (19:45 GMT)

    Frank Rijkaard and Rudi VollerImage source, Getty Images

    Speaking of fireworks...

    Things can get tasty when the Netherlands play Germany., external Simon Kuper's classic Football against the Enemy begins with a chapter on the teams' 1988 European Championship meeting., external

    The two rivals are tangoing again tonight in Amsterdam. And there is a little bit of revenge on the menu.

    In November, Virgil van Dijk scored a last-minute equaliser to take the Netherlands into to the Nations League finals and relegate Germany to Group B. Kick-off is 19:45 GMT.

  5. More fireworks tonight?published at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    EvasnImage source, Getty Images

    The only previous clash between these countries was a friendly in May 2016 and served as a Windsor Park send-off for Northern Ireland before they headed to France for the Euro finals.

    Part of the send-off that night was a fireworks display on the pitch at the end of the match, though it’s probably fair to say it wouldn’t have been the most spectacular fans will have seen.

    The match itself produced an easy 3-0 win for Michael O’Neill’s men – a repeat of that outcome would do the home fans inside Windsor Park very nicely.

  6. Postpublished at 19:26 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Media caption,

    Belarus will be a bigger threat than Estonia - Michael O'Neill

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neil: "I think Belarus will pose a greater counter-attacking threat than Estonia and that's something we have to be wary of," said O'Neill.

    "The way we played on Thursday night, we had a lot of possession, and that will be the objective again. Overall it was a good performance - we showed patience when it was needed and we want to build on that.

    "We take a lot of confidence from that game as our general play was of a high standard. We just need better quality in the final third and a better final ball."

  7. It's fun to stay...published at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Kyle LaffertyImage source, Getty Images

    Kyle Lafferty looks in good spirits ahead of kick-off...

  8. Belarus' Plan Bpublished at 19:21 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Windsor ParkImage source, Getty

    Belarus may well have written off this whole qualifying group in favour of a sidedoor entry into Euro 2020 as one of four Nations League winners.

    Their promotion from League D to League C in the inaugural competition means they are into the play-off for a slot at the continent's top table.

  9. Both teams need to winpublished at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Stephen Craigan
    Former NI defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    Belarus lost to the Netherlands on Thursday so if they lose tonight their campaign is almost over already.

    So as much as Northern Ireland will want to start with two home wins, Belarus will have to come and have a go here in Belfast.

  10. A group of two halvespublished at 19:12 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    After tonight's game, Northern Ireland are on the road for away matches against Estonia and Belarus.

    From then on it gets tougher than stale jerky with Northern Ireland at home against Germany on 9 September, away to the Netherlands on 10 October, at home to the Dutch on 16 November and finally away to Germany on 19 November.

    "In all honesty, we probably need to win all four to stand any chance of doing well in this group,’ said Aberdeen's Niall McGinn of Northern Ireland's opening fixtures.

    ‘If we can take care of our home games and then build on that away, all the better. We know we won’t get much possession against Germany or Holland, so we have to make the most of these games.’

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  11. Suited and bootedpublished at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Captain Steven Davis has his pennant and armband in place on his peg...

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  12. Davis delights in home comfortspublished at 19:03 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    Steven DavisImage source, Getty

    Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis's penalty against Estonia on Thursday saw him join iconic strikers Gerry Armstrong, Jimmy Quinn and Iain Dowie on 12 international goals - joint fourth on the Northern Ireland goalscoring charts.

    Ten of his 12 strikes have come at Windsor Park, making the National Stadium a happy hunting ground for the Rangers midfielder, currently on loan from Southampton.

    Davis will win his 109th cap tonight, bringing him to within 10 of his country's all-time appearance record held by Northern Ireland goalkeeping legend Pat Jennings.

  13. The tale of the tablepublished at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Group table

    The top two from Group C will have an automatic place at Euro 2020.

    With the Netherland and Germany as headliners, Northern Ireland know they will have to get off to a fast start and keep running to cause an upset.

    Goals from Niall McGinn and Steven Davis set them off on the right foot with a 2-0 win over Estonia at Windsor Park on Thursday.

    Northern Ireland celebrate beating EstoniaImage source, Getty
  14. Will Alexander be great?published at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    Alexander HlebImage source, Getty

    There won’t be too many names from the Belarus team-sheet jumping out at Northern Ireland fans, but one they will all almost certainly recognise is Alexander Hleb.

    The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder, now 37, is currently plying his trade with Belarusian champions BATE Borisov, who gave the Gunners a fright by winning the first leg of their Europa League clash last month. He was excellent against his old club in that game and Northern Ireland will have to keep a close eye on him tonight.

  15. Team newspublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Belarus have swapped out goalkeeper Andrey Gorbunov in the wake of the 4-0 defeat by the Netherlands. Andrei Klimovich comes in between the sticks as one of five changes that also sees the inclusion of former Arsenal man Aleksandr Hleb.

    Belarus: Andrei Klimovich, Stanislav Dragun, Aleksandr Martynovich, Igor Shitov, Pavel Savitski, Denis Laptev, Aleksandr Hleb, Mikhail Sivakov, Ivan Maevski, Maksim Volodko, Igor Stasevich

  16. NI unchangedpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill keeps faith with the same starting XI which saw off Estonia 2-0 on Thursday.

    Gareth McAuley comes onto the bench in place of Arsenal teenage defender Daniel Ballard.

    Northern Ireland v BelarusImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland v Belarus

    Substitutes: Michael McGovern (GK), Conor Hazard (GK), Conor McLaughlin, Gareth McAuley, Liam Boyce, Shane Ferguson, Jordan Thompson, Tom Flanagan, Aaron Hughes, Conor Washington, Josh Magennis, Paul Smyth

  17. Over land and seapublished at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2019

    Northern Ireland v Belarus (19:45 GMT)

    Northern Ireland fans in ParisImage source, Getty Images

    We'll always have Paris...

    ...but could Michael O'Neill's men add Baku/Budapest/Copenhagen/Bilbao/delete as appropriate to the list of stops on Northern Ireland's continental adventures?