Northern Ireland hold European champions Italy - as it happened

1. Use audio icon at top of the page
2. Result: Northern Ireland 0-0 Italy
3. Italy will be involved in play-offs in March after finishing second behind Switzerland in Group C
4. N Ireland go through the campaign without conceding a goal in their home games

The final whistle

That's everything for tonight, and what a night it was.

It says a lot about your performance when you are disappointed about not beating the European champions.

At the end of it all, a draw has secured third place in Group C for Northern Ireland and you can read Mark Sterling's report from Windsor Park here.

Switzerland qualify for the World Cup thanks to their 4-0 win at home to Bulgaria and Italy have to do it the hard way through the play-offs!

It was a special night at Windsor Park and hopefully we will get to do it all over again soon.

Arrivederci!

Pacemaker

How it finished

Joy for Switzerland, despair for Italy and a positive end for Northern Ireland.

BBC

'We played with our heads'

You know you are going to have to work for long periods and suck up some pressure. You are going to have to work your socks off and we did that in abundance. The desire and work rate to get a result in a game that was a dead rubber for us, people don't understand that every game means something for them. Tonight they played with their heads. We asked them not to play with too much emotion because it can affect your concentration and they did that to a man. You know you are going to get some chances, especially when they have to start taking chances at the back and Conor Washington had the best chance of the game.

Ian BaracloughNorthern Ireland manager

'We are struggling to score goals' - Mancini

Despite controlling matches, we're struggling to score goals at the moment. We needed to score early on tonight. It's a shame because we should have finished things off sooner in this group. We need to rediscover what has set us apart until now and remain completely calm until March.

Roberto ManciniItaly manager

Press Eye

'Could and probably should have won'

We could and probably should have won. It was disappointing as a striker to come on as a substitute and get a chance like that and not take it. We have to take the positives.

Conor WashingtonNorthern Ireland striker

'I haven't made a decision' - Davis

Before we get some reflection on the game, here's what Steven Davis had to say when asked that all-important question about his international future.

Whenever that day comes it is never going to be easy to accept. I have had some of my most memorable moments in a Northern Ireland shirt, it is always an honour to pull it on. I honestly don't know what the future holds. I think with the next Euro campaign coming up it is going to be so important and I need to take into consideration giving young players a chance to come in and show what they can do as well. I genuinely haven't made any decisions, it is going to be a very difficult one but it was very important to focus on these two games and now I will have those conversations with my family and the manager to see what the best way is to move forward.

Steven DavisNorthern Ireland captain speaking to Sky Sports

Press Eye

Right, who wants some reaction?

It's also worth saying, Northern Ireland didn't concede a goal at home in the group.

That's pretty good going.

Press Eye

It's brackets time...

England put 10 (TEN) past poor San Marino to book their spot at the World Cup.

At Hampden Park, Scotland stunned Denmark 2-0 and will be one of the seeded teams for the play-offs!

Getty Images

How good was this man tonight?

Press Eye

FULL-TIME

Remo Feuler seals it in injury time. The Swiss are going to the World Cup and Italy slip into a play-off!

Getty Images

NI had two best chances

John O'Neill

Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

Italy had most of the possession but Northern Ireland had the best two chances. Stuart Dallas and Conor Washington, who will be kicking himself that he didn't score.

That's the loudest rendition of Sweet Caroline you're likely to hear. Superb!

FULL-TIME

It's all over in Belfast! Northern Ireland have held the European champions - and they probably should have won it!

Inpho

World Cup Qualifier Result: Northern Ireland 0-0 Italy

We're into the third and final minute of additional time...

CLOSE!

OFF THE LINE!!!! Conor Washington could have, should have won it at the death!

He rounds Donnarumma outside the area. He breaks into the box, skins one defender but his effort is weak and Bonucci manages to get a leg on it to stop the ball rolling in.

That was the moment!