Germany are almost in through the middle straight from kick-off but Jonny Evans cleans it up. The atmosphere is 10/10. Superb.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

As always on big international nights against the superpowers of European football the Windsor Park crowd will play a key role in spurring Northern Ireland on in tonight's crucial Group C encounter.

The Germans will hope to silence the home fans with an early goal, as they did with Sebastian Rudy's second-minute strike in his side's 3-1 World Cup qualifier win in Belfast in October 2017.

Patience will be the watchword for the home fans, with the Germans expected to dominate possession and Northern Ireland being forced into a rearguard action, hoping to find a way past the Germans on the break or from set-pieces.

That will be at odds with Michael O'Neill's philosophy of the last 12 months which has seen the men in green adopt a more attacking, high tempo style of play. Tonight will be all about physicality, keeping concentration and plenty of energy in the home ranks.

The 'new' National Stadium has already played host to some magical nights, most notably qualification for Euro 2016, but the increased capacity of 18,000 supporters have yet to witness the taking of a major scalp of the likes of England in 2005 and Spain in 2006 at the 'old' Windsor Park.

Away we go!

Yeah there's not many in...

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

The atmosphere at the Cardiff City Stadium is pretty low key as Wales get set to return to action following Friday's Euro 2020 qualifying win over Azerbaijan.

There is much less at stake in tonight's friendly with Belarus, but Ryan Giggs wants a team showing five changes from the Azerbaijan triumph to maintain momentum.

It is a soggy night in the Welsh capital, where Wales are expecting one of their lowest crowds since this ground opened a decade ago.

But the mood has been brightened by Azerbaijan's draw with Croatia earlier this evening, which could be good news for Wales as they look to finish in Group E's top two.

Belarus have got a class kit.

Stephen Craigan
Former NI defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

This team has managed to put six or seven results together to get to a major tournament. But they are going to have to win a big one - this side have backed it up but will need to go one beyond tonight.

Michael O'Neill has almost built a club side here. The team doesn't change a lot, it's a real core squad. The one thing this side lack is a real natural goalscorer.

No chance of a kip in Belfast - it's bouncing in there.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

Fans inside Windsor Park are being treated to a pre-match rendition of Luciano Pavarotti's 'Nessun Dorma'.

'No-one sleeps' is the rough translation I think. Let's hope the Northern Ireland defence isn't caught napping tonight.

Almost time to get under way then - feeling confident?

Healy and Keane. Absolute goal machines!

Scotland have been lacking a goalscorer for well, decades. No player in the last 20 years -since Scotland last qualified for a major tournament - has managed 20 goals for the nation. Kenny Miller has come closest with 18. Ally McCoist before him managed 19.

In fact only Kenny Dalglish and Dennis Law - both on 30 - have ever made it past 20 goals for Scotland.

By comparison, Wales have Gareth Bale with 32, Northern Ireland have had David Healy with 36, Kyle Lafferty has 20, and Robbie Keane scored a remarkable 68 goals for the Republic of Ireland.

England are back in action on Tuesday evening - and back on the road in Southampton. I recall an Ashley Cole-Wayne Bridge double act down the left flank at St Mary's a good few years ago.

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

I think we all agree the best route for Scotland is through the play-offs, and we should be focussing on building up to that.

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill says avoiding defeat against Germany would rank among the country's greatest results.

"It [a positive result] would be right up there in terms of great Northern Ireland results," said O'Neill.

"We've had big nights here in the past - the wins against England [2005] and Spain [2006] - but ultimately they never really led to anything.

"They didn't lead to qualification. It was just a great experience and a great night for the fans. A result will also be a key factor in terms of qualification for Euro 2020."

Northern Ireland make three changes from their last Euro qualifier at the end of June - with Stuart Dallas, George Saville and Niall McGinn coming in for injured pair Michael Smith and Jordan Jones, plus Josh Magennis who drops to the bench.

Looks like O'Neill is playing a straight back four with a packed midfield and Conor Washington the lone striker, supported by Niall McGinn.

Only Jonny Evans, Steven Davis and Corry Evans remain from the line-up which started against the Germans in Belfast almost two years ago.

The German team shows two changes from that which lost 4-2 to the Netherlands on Thursday. Julian Brandt replaces the injured Nico Schulz and Marcel Halstenberg comes in for Jonathan Tah, who scored an own goal against the Dutch.

Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell, Dallas, J Evans, Cathcart, Lewis, C Evans, Davis (c), McNair, Saville McGinn, Washington.

Subs: Carson, McGovern, McLaughlin, Flanagan, Ferguson, Donnelly, Thompson, Whyte, Magennis, Lafferty, Boyce, Lavery.

Germany: Neuer (c), Ginter, Kimmich, Kroos, Werner, Brandt, Reus, Klostermann, Sule, Halstenberg, Gnabry.

Subs: Leno, ter Stegan, Hector, Tah, Havertz, Stark, Waldschmidt, Can.

Steve Clarke hinted he would freshen up his line-up for tonight, and he's done just that. Goalscorer on Friday night John McGinn drops out of central midfield, and in comes Norwich City's Kenny McLean. James Forrest and Ryan Fraser also drop out after ineffectual performances last time out, replaced by Celtic's Ryan Christie and Robert Snodgrass.

Up front, Matt Phillips leads the line, with Oli McBurnie dropping to the bench.

Belgium's line-up is, well, decent.

Scotland: Marshall, O'Donnell, Mulgrew, Cooper, Robertson, McGregor, McLean, McTominay, Christie, Phillips, Snodgrass. Subs: MacGillivray, Russell, McBurnie, Fraser, McLaughlin, Forrest, McGinn, Bates, Armstrong, Devlin, Taylor.

Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Meunier, Tielemans, Dendoncker, Chadli, Mertens, De Bruyne, Lukaku. Subs: Carrasco, Batshuayi, Vanaken, Sels, Verschaeren, Praet, Mignolet, Januzaj, Origi, Benteke, Raman

There's always time for a brew.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill on Sky Sports: "We've tried to put as much pace in the team as we can - Stuart Dallas has been playing at right-back for Leeds all season.

"We expect Germany to have a back four. We are going to have to match them, the key in this game is to stay in the game for as long as possible. We have to play our own game and hurt them."