This Northern Ireland team love a selfie.

Here come the players.

Five minutes to go now.

Consider St Mary's cranked up.

St Mary's is putting on a proper show here.

A host of young girls on the pitch with huge banners as they await the arrival of the teams.

In other news, the sun is lowering and the press box is in its range. I knew I should have packed those sunglasses.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at St Mary's

After 450 days of anticipation tonight Northern Ireland will make history.

It’s been a long, hard road from when the national team was reformed in 2004 after initially being disbanded at the start of the century.

Tonight, what was once impossible becomes a reality as they step out at a major tournament for the first time.

Several of Kenny Shiels’ squad have been there from the very beginning and this is their reward.

From part-time dreamers to believers, few deserve this moment more.

Caragh Hamilton
Northern Ireland international on BBC One

Qualifying seems so long ago but memories which will live with us forever.

Here we are and it seems like so many people are paying to follow the team when we did not even have a team 20 years ago.

We've just had the first proper rendition of 'Green and White Army' from the Northern Ireland fans who are filling up the half of the stand to the right of the dug-out.

Ten minutes from kick-off and noise levels are shifting through the gears nicely.

BBC Sport looks back at the night Northern Ireland qualified for the Euro 2022 finals - with a bit of help from those who remember it best.

There are two centurions, plenty of experience, 13 domestic-based players and seven players born this century.

Read here to get to know the 23 members of the Northern Ireland squad that little bit more.

Image source, Press Eye

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at St Mary's

The sun is starting to disappear and leave a shadow across the St Mary's pitch, which is giving some (albeit not that much) relief from the relentless heat on the south coast of England today.

In an unrelated note, Northern Ireland are going to debut their new white Euros away kit tonight rather than the traditional green. Norway, as the designated home team for this Group A opener, get to wear their usual red jerseys.

Simon Gleave
Head of sports analysis, Nielsen Gracenote

Northern Ireland have won 10 of their last 14 competitive matches and 15 of their first 93 competitive fixtures.

Their world ranking of 47th is the lowest of any team at these finals, but they upset Wales and Ukraine to qualify.

Simon Gleave
Head of sports analysis, Nielsen Gracenote

Northern Ireland have pulled off a shock against Norway before, in qualification for Euro 2013.

In November 2011, Northern Ireland - FIFA-ranked 64 at the time - beat Norway, who were 12th in the world, 3-1 in Lurgan.

Norway have won the other six games between the teams, including 6-0 victories in both qualification matches for Euro 2022.

“It will be amazing, probably a dream come true. Actually, it probably isn’t a dream come true because it was never a dream.”

Joely Andrews, 20, is one of the youngest members of the Northern Ireland squad. It’s been a whirlwind year for the midfielder as she has earned a place in Kenny Shiels’ squad for the Euros.

So much of a whirlwind, in fact, that she had not even allowed herself to dream about the possibility.

Read more of her thoughts ahead of the tournament here.

Image source, Press Eye

Inter Milan's Anja Sonstevold has had an early look around St Mary's Stadium. The 21-cap defender made one appearance at Euro 2017.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at St Mary's

Retail workers, students, funeral directors, teachers, coaches…

They are just some of the jobs that Northern Ireland’s squad have been juggling as they secured qualification for the Euros.

In January, 22 domestic based players entered a full-time training camp to get ready for the tournament, and tonight against Norway they will be tested by some of the world’s best.

On paper they have little chance, but football is a funny old game and you can’t underestimate how much this team will fight for the shirt.

It’s like a classic FA Cup tie – just on Europe’s biggest stage.

Stephen Craigan
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

At times Northern Ireland have been playing in front of friends and family. Nobody really took an interest. There was no media coverage.

Suddenly since Kenny Shiels took over, things have changed. Results have changed. They've grabbed the imagination of everyone. Young girls and boys in Northern Ireland want to watch them play.

He got them winning games. That's how you attract new fans. It's great on the emotional side, but you're here to play a game of football. Play the game and not the occasion.

This Northern Ireland team has been dubbed the game-changers since creating history by qualifying for these Euros.

It was 450 days ago that they became the first women's NI team to reach a major finals.

It's a story that many have enjoyed telling and hearing - but now it's showtime for Kenny Shiels and his girls.

Image source, Press Eye

BBC Sport's Andy Gray paid a visit to the families of three of Northern Ireland's key players over the last few weeks, as they recorded a surprise message ahead of the Euros.

Have a look at the reaction from Simone Magill, Julie Nelson and Lauren Wade when they saw the videos.

Warning - there may be one or two tears.