Northern Ireland supporters are back in the stands in numbers at Windsor ParkImage caption: Northern Ireland supporters are back in the stands in numbers at Windsor Park
Post update
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
A big welcome to tonight's referee - Ovidiu Hategan....
Only kidding. It's actually Harald Lechner from Austria, who is almost guaranteed to be more popular leaving Belfast than his Romanian counterpart four years ago.
And there's also VAR tonight, which should help him along.
PacemakerCopyright: Pacemaker
Time for revenge?
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
So, if you hear anything about dodgy handball decisions and Romanian referees, this is why.
Things were going to plan in Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off with Switzerland in 2017. Windsor Park was rocking and the two sides were playing out an exciting and tense encounter.
Then, in the 56th minute, Xherdan Shaqiri's volley was blocked by Corry Evans and, to the surprise of absolutely everyone in the ground, referee Ovidiu Hategan awarded a penalty for handball.
One - Evans was a yard away from Shaqiri. Two - it didn't even strike his arm, it was clearly off the top of his back.
To add insult to injury Evans was booked and missed the second leg, a decision he later described as "disgraceful".
Ricardo Rodriquez converted the spot kick and it turned out to be the decisive goal across the two legs.
Northern Ireland fans are completely over it, we promise...
Video content
Video caption: Corry Evans - 'It's disgraceful, I clearly didn't put my hand up'Corry Evans - 'It's disgraceful, I clearly didn't put my hand up'
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Here comes Healy
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park
David Healy hasn't commented much publicly about Northern Ireland since retiring as a player. As Northern Ireland's record goalscorer, however, he is a man worth hearing from.
And that is what you can do on Radio Ulster tonight as the current Linfield manager makes a rare international Sportsound appearance as a pundit alongside Jim Magilton with presenter Michael McNamee.
They are positioned just to the right of me here in the Windsor press box and and the former Leeds United and Rangers striker got a warm greeting from his former international team-mate as he arrived a while ago.
And fitting that he is with us on the week that's in it - Monday was the 15th anniversary of THAT famous hat-trick against Spain here at the Belfast venue.
Time for calm
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Ian Baraclough has called on his players to "stay in the zone" in Wednesday's vital World Cup qualifier against Switzerland.
Sixteen-thousand tickets are available for the match as home fans return to Windsor Park in major numbers for the first time during Baraclough's reign.
Baraclough welcomed the boost that will provide, but also sounded a warning.
"We've all talked about the fans and there being an atmosphere for the first time in 18 months," he said.
"We all know how important these matches can be, though it is important we stay in the zone and manage the game properly.
"We can't go flying out of the traps willy-nilly with individuals trying to do their own thing. We need to stay compact as a team and try and pick them off at the right times, and keep clear heads."
Press EyeCopyright: Press Eye
Post update
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
BBC Radio Ulster
You can listen to live coverage of tonight's game on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website from 19:30 BST.
Northern Ireland's record goalscorer and current Linfield manager David Healy will be making his punditry debut alongside Jim Magilton and Joel Taggart.
As ever, Michael McNamee is joined by John O'Neill on commentary from Windsor Park.
While Northern Ireland are missing several key names, the same can be said for the Swiss.
There's no Kevin Mbabu, no Granit Xhaka, no Breel Embolo
and no Xherdan Shaqiri - all of whom will be well known to football fans around the world.
However they were also without those players for their impressive draw at home to Italy, and Murat Yakin has stuck the same defence which kept the European champions out.
Denis Zakaria, Ruben Vargas, Christian Faasnacht and Remo Freuler come into the starting team and will play behind leading attacking threat Haris Seferovic.
BBCCopyright: BBC
No shocks and no questions
Northern Ireland v Switzerland
Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park
This is as sure as we have been for some time ahead of a game about how Northern Ireland will line up.
Ian Baraclough had one real question to answer and that was who would replace the suspended Paddy McNair at the back, and he has gone for Ciaran Brown ahead of Tom Flanagan.
It's a huge night for youngster Brown on what will be his first competitive start for his country, after starting the friendly win over Estonia on Sunday.
It's been 3-5-2 for Baraclough in every qualifier so far. That's clearly his shape and that's what we will see from the hosts this evening.
He called for calm heads during the week. Let's see if he gets them.
Team News
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
After changing things up and resting some players in Sunday's friendly with Estonia, Ian Baraclogh has reverted to type and it's a line-up a lot of us were expecting.
From Thursday's qualifier with Lithuania, Paddy McNair is the only man to drop out of the squad as he serves his suspension.
Cardiff City defender Ciaron Brown comes into the side and it looks like Baraclough will opt for a 3-5-2 with Shayne Lavery and Conor Washington leading the line up top.
Despite his goalscoring heroics in Tallinn on Sunday, Shane Ferguson has to settle for a place on the bench.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Who is missing?
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
This is a long and painful list if you are a Northern Ireland supporter.
Jonny Evans and Stuart Dallas are the two main absentees and Ian Baraclough will miss their Premier League quality.
If that wasn't enough, Corry Evans, a mainstay in midfield, is also out while Josh Magennis and Liam Boyce aren't involved.
After picking up a yellow card in Lithuania, Paddy McNair is suspended and misses out on the chance to win his 50th cap in front of a roaring home support.
Northern Ireland don't have huge strength in depth anyway, and with all of those players almost guaranteed to play some part if available, Baraclough will need others to stand up in their place.
However, George Saville is back on the bench after serving a suspension of his own.
Press EyeCopyright: Press Eye
Post update
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Right, who wants some team news?
Get Involved
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
You can almost feel this picture. It's been a long time since we've experienced this!
It was an iconic image at the end of an emotional night.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill and his captain
Steven Davis walking off the Windsor Park pitch, arm and arm, with the Green
and White Army in full voice.
It was a last home match in charge for Stoke City-bound O’Neill,
while Davis was fresh from the disappointment of blasting a penalty over the
crossbar in a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands that ended his side’s hopes of
automatic Euro 2020 qualification.
That was 16 November 2019. The thought, then, that it would
be almost two years before Windsor Park was close to being full for an
international again would have seemed beyond absurd.
Here we are tonight, though, waiting for 16,000 Northern
Ireland supporters to flood into this famous Belfast venue for the first time
since then for what is a massively important World Cup qualifier.
Switzerland are the opposition, and they have their own
history with this stadium – yes, we’ve gone early in bringing that up – which adds
even more spice to the occasion.
It’s quiet in here for now, but it won’t be very soon. Green
and White Army, do your thing.
Press EyeCopyright: Press Eye
Still to come
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
BBCCopyright: BBC
On a roll
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Steven Davis is hoping the "snowball effect" of two consecutive wins can help carry Northern Ireland to victory over Switzerland.
Ian Baraclough's men go into the vital World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park on the back of wins away to Lithuania and Estonia.
It is the first time the side have won twice in a row under Baraclough and captain Davis wants to build on that.
"We know what winning games can do for confidence within the group," he said.
"We hope it has that snowball effect. There have been a lot of positives to take from the previous two games and a lot of experience for the younger players."
Tonight is meant to be a night of celebration as 16,000 supporters return to Windsor Park for the first time since the pandemic began.
However the Irish FA has come under fire for their ticket prices for the game, which have been described as a "tipping point" by one NI Supporters' Group.
For those with GAWA Official membership, three-match bundles had been advertised between £112.50-£145.50 for adults and £45 for juniors.
Individual match prices for Wednesday's qualifier with Switzerland began at £52.
The GAWA Official membership scheme had been introduced with variable attendances amid the Covid-19 in place of the Campaign Card, which guaranteed supporters seat block booking for competitive matches.
"Tickets are priced based on category of game and Wednesday's match is a Category A game," read an IFA statement.
"The price of individual general sale tickets for the Switzerland match are the same as they were for Germany and Netherlands in 2018-19.
"Looking ahead to the World Cup qualifiers in November, fans were told that the price of individual general ticket sales for Lithuania will be lower, while Italy will also be a Category A game.
"We are very encouraged by the uptake on the GAWA Official membership scheme which allowed members to realise a 22% reduction across a three-match bundle as well as range of other special discounts.
PressEyeCopyright: PressEye
Home comforts needed
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park
Think of Windsor Park and you think of a tough place to come for opposition teams.
Not so much recently, though.
Northern Ireland have failed to win any of their last seven competitive matches at the Belfast venue, a winless record that stretches to eight if you include friendlies.
The majority of those encounters have been played behind doors, of course, and the soulless nature of that experience always felt that bit stranger in a stadium that is usually bouncing on big international nights.
Can the return of fans bring that much-needed home win?
Live Reporting
Andy Gray
All times stated are UK
Come on Northern Ireland!
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Post update
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
A big welcome to tonight's referee - Ovidiu Hategan....
Only kidding. It's actually Harald Lechner from Austria, who is almost guaranteed to be more popular leaving Belfast than his Romanian counterpart four years ago.
And there's also VAR tonight, which should help him along.
Time for revenge?
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
So, if you hear anything about dodgy handball decisions and Romanian referees, this is why.
Things were going to plan in Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off with Switzerland in 2017. Windsor Park was rocking and the two sides were playing out an exciting and tense encounter.
Then, in the 56th minute, Xherdan Shaqiri's volley was blocked by Corry Evans and, to the surprise of absolutely everyone in the ground, referee Ovidiu Hategan awarded a penalty for handball.
One - Evans was a yard away from Shaqiri. Two - it didn't even strike his arm, it was clearly off the top of his back.
To add insult to injury Evans was booked and missed the second leg, a decision he later described as "disgraceful".
Ricardo Rodriquez converted the spot kick and it turned out to be the decisive goal across the two legs.
Northern Ireland fans are completely over it, we promise...
Video content
Here comes Healy
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park
David Healy hasn't commented much publicly about Northern Ireland since retiring as a player. As Northern Ireland's record goalscorer, however, he is a man worth hearing from.
And that is what you can do on Radio Ulster tonight as the current Linfield manager makes a rare international Sportsound appearance as a pundit alongside Jim Magilton with presenter Michael McNamee.
They are positioned just to the right of me here in the Windsor press box and and the former Leeds United and Rangers striker got a warm greeting from his former international team-mate as he arrived a while ago.
And fitting that he is with us on the week that's in it - Monday was the 15th anniversary of THAT famous hat-trick against Spain here at the Belfast venue.
Time for calm
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Ian Baraclough has called on his players to "stay in the zone" in Wednesday's vital World Cup qualifier against Switzerland.
Sixteen-thousand tickets are available for the match as home fans return to Windsor Park in major numbers for the first time during Baraclough's reign.
Baraclough welcomed the boost that will provide, but also sounded a warning.
"We've all talked about the fans and there being an atmosphere for the first time in 18 months," he said.
"We all know how important these matches can be, though it is important we stay in the zone and manage the game properly.
"We can't go flying out of the traps willy-nilly with individuals trying to do their own thing. We need to stay compact as a team and try and pick them off at the right times, and keep clear heads."
Post update
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
BBC Radio Ulster
You can listen to live coverage of tonight's game on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website from 19:30 BST.
Northern Ireland's record goalscorer and current Linfield manager David Healy will be making his punditry debut alongside Jim Magilton and Joel Taggart.
As ever, Michael McNamee is joined by John O'Neill on commentary from Windsor Park.
Get Involved
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Post update
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
While Northern Ireland are missing several key names, the same can be said for the Swiss.
There's no Kevin Mbabu, no Granit Xhaka, no Breel Embolo and no Xherdan Shaqiri - all of whom will be well known to football fans around the world.
However they were also without those players for their impressive draw at home to Italy, and Murat Yakin has stuck the same defence which kept the European champions out.
Denis Zakaria, Ruben Vargas, Christian Faasnacht and Remo Freuler come into the starting team and will play behind leading attacking threat Haris Seferovic.
No shocks and no questions
Northern Ireland v Switzerland
Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park
This is as sure as we have been for some time ahead of a game about how Northern Ireland will line up.
Ian Baraclough had one real question to answer and that was who would replace the suspended Paddy McNair at the back, and he has gone for Ciaran Brown ahead of Tom Flanagan.
It's a huge night for youngster Brown on what will be his first competitive start for his country, after starting the friendly win over Estonia on Sunday.
It's been 3-5-2 for Baraclough in every qualifier so far. That's clearly his shape and that's what we will see from the hosts this evening.
He called for calm heads during the week. Let's see if he gets them.
Team News
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
After changing things up and resting some players in Sunday's friendly with Estonia, Ian Baraclogh has reverted to type and it's a line-up a lot of us were expecting.
From Thursday's qualifier with Lithuania, Paddy McNair is the only man to drop out of the squad as he serves his suspension.
Cardiff City defender Ciaron Brown comes into the side and it looks like Baraclough will opt for a 3-5-2 with Shayne Lavery and Conor Washington leading the line up top.
Despite his goalscoring heroics in Tallinn on Sunday, Shane Ferguson has to settle for a place on the bench.
Who is missing?
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
This is a long and painful list if you are a Northern Ireland supporter.
Jonny Evans and Stuart Dallas are the two main absentees and Ian Baraclough will miss their Premier League quality.
If that wasn't enough, Corry Evans, a mainstay in midfield, is also out while Josh Magennis and Liam Boyce aren't involved.
After picking up a yellow card in Lithuania, Paddy McNair is suspended and misses out on the chance to win his 50th cap in front of a roaring home support.
Northern Ireland don't have huge strength in depth anyway, and with all of those players almost guaranteed to play some part if available, Baraclough will need others to stand up in their place.
However, George Saville is back on the bench after serving a suspension of his own.
Post update
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Right, who wants some team news?
Get Involved
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
You can almost feel this picture. It's been a long time since we've experienced this!
Post update
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
No longer all picture, no sound
Northern Ireland v Switzerland
Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park
It was an iconic image at the end of an emotional night.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill and his captain Steven Davis walking off the Windsor Park pitch, arm and arm, with the Green and White Army in full voice.
It was a last home match in charge for Stoke City-bound O’Neill, while Davis was fresh from the disappointment of blasting a penalty over the crossbar in a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands that ended his side’s hopes of automatic Euro 2020 qualification.
That was 16 November 2019. The thought, then, that it would be almost two years before Windsor Park was close to being full for an international again would have seemed beyond absurd.
Here we are tonight, though, waiting for 16,000 Northern Ireland supporters to flood into this famous Belfast venue for the first time since then for what is a massively important World Cup qualifier.
Switzerland are the opposition, and they have their own history with this stadium – yes, we’ve gone early in bringing that up – which adds even more spice to the occasion.
It’s quiet in here for now, but it won’t be very soon. Green and White Army, do your thing.
Still to come
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
On a roll
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Steven Davis is hoping the "snowball effect" of two consecutive wins can help carry Northern Ireland to victory over Switzerland.
Ian Baraclough's men go into the vital World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park on the back of wins away to Lithuania and Estonia.
It is the first time the side have won twice in a row under Baraclough and captain Davis wants to build on that.
"We know what winning games can do for confidence within the group," he said.
"We hope it has that snowball effect. There have been a lot of positives to take from the previous two games and a lot of experience for the younger players."
Get Involved
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Ticket price row rumbles on
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Tonight is meant to be a night of celebration as 16,000 supporters return to Windsor Park for the first time since the pandemic began.
However the Irish FA has come under fire for their ticket prices for the game, which have been described as a "tipping point" by one NI Supporters' Group.
For those with GAWA Official membership, three-match bundles had been advertised between £112.50-£145.50 for adults and £45 for juniors.
Individual match prices for Wednesday's qualifier with Switzerland began at £52.
The GAWA Official membership scheme had been introduced with variable attendances amid the Covid-19 in place of the Campaign Card, which guaranteed supporters seat block booking for competitive matches.
"Tickets are priced based on category of game and Wednesday's match is a Category A game," read an IFA statement.
"The price of individual general sale tickets for the Switzerland match are the same as they were for Germany and Netherlands in 2018-19.
"Looking ahead to the World Cup qualifiers in November, fans were told that the price of individual general ticket sales for Lithuania will be lower, while Italy will also be a Category A game.
"We are very encouraged by the uptake on the GAWA Official membership scheme which allowed members to realise a 22% reduction across a three-match bundle as well as range of other special discounts.
Home comforts needed
Northern Ireland v Switzerland (19:45 BST)
Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park
Think of Windsor Park and you think of a tough place to come for opposition teams.
Not so much recently, though.
Northern Ireland have failed to win any of their last seven competitive matches at the Belfast venue, a winless record that stretches to eight if you include friendlies.
The majority of those encounters have been played behind doors, of course, and the soulless nature of that experience always felt that bit stranger in a stadium that is usually bouncing on big international nights.
Can the return of fans bring that much-needed home win?