Summary

  • Northern Ireland 0-1 Finland (FT)

  • Benjamin Kallman opens scoring at Windsor Park

  • Dion Charles has second-half effort ruled out

  • Michael O'Neill's first home match since returning as manager

  • Dion Charles scores twice as Northern Ireland beat San Marino in their opener

  • Finland lost their Group H opener 3-1 to Denmark

  1. Postpublished at 19:40 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    Jim Magilton
    Former Northern Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio Ulster

    The Kazakhstan result is a shocker! Wonderful for them but we expect Denmark to win the group and it's now anyone for second place. It looks like Kazakhstan have potential, Slovenia are going to be a handful and we'll see what Finland have tonight.

  2. Postpublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    Atmosphere is building at Windsor Park.

    It's the usual repertoire of songs from the Green and White Army.

    The Finns have travelled in numbers and there's a fella with an eagle mask on. Any ideas? No, me neither.

  3. Look who it ispublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas are both injured for tonight's games, but that hasn't stopped them popping along to see how preparations are getting on.

    Stand-in Northern Ireland captain Craig Cathcart says having injured duo Davis and Dallas join up with the squad has given the players a lift as the pair are continuing their rehabilitation while in Belfast.

    "He called me skipper," Cathcart joked when asked about Davis' assessment of how he deputised for him as captain.

    Cathcart, who skippered NI in Thursday's win over San Marino with Davis out because of a serious knee injury, added: "It felt weird. I told him not to call me that around him. It's not a term I'm comfortable with, but he tried to wind me up a little bit.

    "It has been brilliant. They came in last night [Friday] and as soon as we saw them it was like old times, it was just so normal.

    Steven Davis and Stuart DallasImage source, Pacemaker
  4. Michael watch!published at 19:37 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    I don't want any emotion, he said.

    Focus on the fans, he said.

    Yes, the build-up to this game focused largely on how it was a homecoming for Michael O'Neill as he managers Northern Ireland at Windsor Park for the first time since returning as boss.

    There's been no sign of him on pitch-side just yet.

    As kick-off approaches, though, you can be almost certain that nearly every fan will have their eyes fixed on the dugout for the emergence of the man that led NI on the joyous journey to the Euro 2016 finals in France.

    Do you think he'll get a cheer?

    Yeah, so do I.

  5. What about Finland?published at 19:35 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    They're not Finnished, they're only 28.

    Finland are one of those counties that seem to churn out extremely capable footballers - think Antti Nieme, Sami Hyypia or Jari Litmanen.

    This current crop of players aren't any different, with Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki the star man.

    Finland are currently 56th in the world, just three places above Northern Ireland, and will be aiming to repeat the success of their previous Euros campaign which saw them qualify for a major tournament for the first time.

    Rangers midfielder Glenn Kamara is another familiar name, while Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky is a reliable man between the sticks.

    Also, keep an eye on Oliver Antman on the bench. The 21-year-old has three goals in four caps and is one to watch in the future.

    Teemu PukkiImage source, Getty Images
  6. If it's not broke...published at 19:33 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    Just the one change, then, for Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill for his first game back at Windsor Park since he returned to the role of Northern Ireland manager.

    Jordan Thompson might have felt unlucky not to have started Thursday night's 2-0 win over San Marino, and he gets a chance to show what he can do as he replaces George Saville in the home side's three-man midfield.

    Will there be a tweak to the shape of the midfield with Thompson joining Shea Charles as an extra sitter? That's certainly an option for O'Neill but it's probably more likely that the Stoke City man slots in on the left of the three.

    It looks like it's as-you-were in the rest of the Northern Ireland team, with O'Neill going with a 3-5-2 shape again.

  7. Team News - One change for NIpublished at 19:31 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    After Thursday's win over San Marino, Michael O'Neill has opted for the 'if it's not broken then don't fix it approach' for tonight's game.

    He has made just the one change with Jordan Thompson replacing George Saville in the middle of the park.

    Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell, Bradley, Cathcart (capt), Ballard, Brown, Lewis, S Charles, Thompson, McNair, D Charles, Washington.

    Subs: Southwood, Hazard, Hume, Saville, Toal, McGeehan, Ferguson, Price, Kennedy, Taylor, Whyte, Magennis.

    Northern Ireland teamImage source, BBC Sport

    Finland's star man Teemu Pukki is named to start for the visitors, who have made three changes for the trip to Belfast.

    Oliver Antman, Kaan Kairinen and Joel Pohjanpalo drop pout of the team.

    Anssi Suhonen, Benjamin Kallman and Rasmus Schuller come into the starting team.

    Finland: Hradecky (capt), Alho, Valsanen, Ivanov, Jensen, Schuller, Kamara, Lod, Suhonen, Pukki, Kallman.

    Subs: Joronen, Sinisalo, Tenho, Taylor, F Jensen, Soiri, Kairinen, Peltola, Antman, Forss, Pohjanpalo, Pallas.

  8. Postpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    It's a milestone for Michael.

    Now, who wants some team news?

    Michael O'Neill statistic
  9. BBC Coveragepublished at 19:28 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    BBC Sounds

    You can listen to tonight's game live on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Ulster & BBC Radio Foyle.

    Joel Taggart is at Windsor Park and is joined by pundits Jim Magilton and Tommy Wright.

    Michael McNamee is on commentary alongside former defender John O'Neill.

    You can listen live from 7.30pm!

  10. Here's one we didn't see comingpublished at 19:26 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    We've had our first shock of the campaign in Group H with Kazakhstan coming from 2-0 down to beat top seeds Denmark 3-2 at home this afternoon.

    That's an outstanding result for Kazakhstan, who lost at home to Slovenia in their opener on Thursday.

    The Slovenians, meanwhile, are now on two wins from two after avoiding a shock by beating minnows San Marino 2-0.

    The group is hotting up nicely and we are only on matchday two!

    Elsewhere, England made it two wins from two with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine at Wembley, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka on target for Gareth Southgate's side.

    Kazakhstan celebrate beating DenmarkImage source, Getty Images
    Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane celebrate scoringImage source, Getty Images
  11. Postpublished at 19:24 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

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  12. Postpublished at 19:22 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill: "We have to play with a tempo and energy. We are going to have to defend more than we did in the previous game and retain the good organisation which we demonstrated [against San Marino].

    "We will probably need to be a little bit more clinical and creative in the final third of the pitch, but we may find that a little bit easier because I believe there will be more space than on Thursday.

    "We also need someone to step up and stick the ball in the net. Dion [Charles] did that in the previous game and he and Conor [Washington] will be itching to get on the scoresheet again."

  13. Familiar facespublished at 19:21 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    We've been here before with Finalnd.

    Kyle Lafferty scored twice as Northern Ireland ran out 2-1 winners at Windsor Park in qualifying for Euro 2016.

    Then, in the final group game with qualification already secured, Craig Cathcart scored as the Green and White Army had a party in Helsinki.

    More of the same tonight would go down pretty well...

    Kyle Lafferty scores against FinlandImage source, Press Eye
    Northern Ireland celebrate in FinlandImage source, Press Eye
  14. Postpublished at 19:19 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    Jana McCabe
    Football writer

    As well as the travelling Finland support, we've also checked in with the Green and White Army ahead of tonight's game.

    Lindsay and Amy both think Northern Ireland will win 2-1 against the Finns and Megan has been optimistic and said Michael O'Neill's men will keep a clean sheet and win 2-0.

    Northern Ireland fansImage source, BBC Sport

    Harry and his dad, Alan, have been enjoying pre-match festivities and, unsurprisingly, have both gone for Northern Ireland wins.

    Harry has guessed a narrow 1-0 the home side and Alan thinks it'll be three points with a 2-1 win.

    Northern Ireland fansImage source, BBC Sport
  15. There's no place like homepublished at 19:16 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    An impressive record at their Windsor Park home in south Belfast was a major factor in Northern Ireland's first-ever Euros qualification in 2016, and it continued for O'Neill's next two campaigns which saw them reach the World Cup 2018 play-off and Euro 2021 play-offs - though he had departed before they lost to Slovenia in that final.

    O'Neill, who revealed that he has a fully-fit squad to choose from for the visit of Finland, has called on the home fans - no doubt keen to welcome the returning boss - to focus their support on his players.

    "The fans have been terrific, but it's about the team, so focus on the team," he said.

    "We'll have some young players on the pitch and they will need to feel they have the support of the crowd, that is vital.

    "I think for any player, particularly in an international shirt, a fanbase that is extremely positive and always gets behind the team is all we can ask for.

    "They always do and if they can bring an extra decibel to it, we'll respond to that."

    Windsor ParkImage source, Getty Images
  16. Postpublished at 19:15 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    Jana McCabe
    Football writer

    More Finnish fans have been giving their predictions ahead of tonight's game.

    Karri thinks his side will be comfortable 2-0 winners, Jari and Lauri feel Finland will win 2-1, Mikko feels it will be a narrow 1-0 victory and, against all his mates, Jani thinks it will end in a 1-1 draw.

    Finland fans in Belfast

    Mike, who is also enjoying the spring weather in Belfast, thinks his men will run out 2-1 winners.

    There's a running theme for all the Finland fans. They are feeling confident!

    A Finland fan in Belfast
  17. Fifteen-year-old Linfield striker has 'big future'published at 19:14 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    When, as a 15-year-old striker, you are singled out for special praise from someone of the stature of Northern Ireland record men's goalscorer David Healy, the chances are you have the potential to be something special.

    Healy, scorer of 36 goals in 95 international appearances, also happens to be Braiden Graham's club manager at Irish Premiership champions Linfield.

    The former Leeds United and Fulham striker handed the teenager his debut as a substitute in the second half of Friday's 5-0 league win over Dungannon Swifts.

    After the game, he was gushing in his commendation of the exciting prospect, who at 15 years and 137 days had just become the Belfast club's youngest ever senior player.

    "He's got all the tools, all the attributes, but we'll not be getting carried away - he has got a long, tough road ahead of him," observed Healy.

    "He brings goals, he brings energy and some of his link-up play when he came on was good."

    Braiden GrahamImage source, Pacemaker
  18. Kenny keen to avoid 'slow death' against Francepublished at 19:13 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Republic of Ireland v France (Monday)

    Stephen Kenny has challenged the Republic of Ireland to meet France with "fire and ice" if they are to avoid a "slow death" in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium.

    Ireland face the beaten World Cup finalists, who opened their campaign with a 4-0 win over the Netherlands, in Dublin on Monday.

    New France captain Kylian Mbappe scored twice hammered the Dutch in Paris.

    "I think we'll show - and we'll need to show - fire and ice," Kenny said.

    "We need to show fire, we need to have that level of tenacity in our play and aggression in our play, but also have composure in possession and have that level of calm in our play in possession. It's trying to combine the two."

    Kylian Mbappe celebrates a goalImage source, Getty Images
  19. Sunny spring Sunday nights in Belfastpublished at 19:12 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    Sunset in Belfast this evening is due to be just a few minutes after kick-off, and it will bring a close to what has been a largely sunny spring day in the capital.

    Not warm - and certainly not as warm as it was in San Marino - but sunny nonetheless.

    The Northern Ireland players came out for their warm-up pretty much bang on 19:00 BST, with the new coaching ream of Aaron Hughes and Diarmuid O'CarrollI putting the players through their paces at the Kop end.

    The Northern Ireland fans are still getting used to these late Sunday night kick-offs - let's see how adapt as kick-off approaches.

  20. Fan predictionspublished at 19:12 British Summer Time 26 March 2023

    Northern Ireland v Finland (19:45 BST)

    Jana McCabe
    Football writer

    Plenty of Finland fans have made the trip to Belfast for tonight's match and are in good spirits ahead of tonight's game as they explore the city ahead of kick off.

    Beni, Juhani and Tuomas are three fans who have been out and about today, and all three are predicting a win for the visitors.

    Beni thinks Finland will win 2-1, Juhani gives Finland a 1-0 win and Tuomas thinks it will be three goals and three points in a 3-1 win.

    Finland fans in BelfastImage source, BBC Sport