John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

There's a tremendous atmosphere here! If you consider there is only a quarter of the crowd compared to the one in Copenhagen on Friday night, the atmosphere is still just as good!

Here we go!

There was a rainbow over the family stand during the anthems. Will there be a pot of gold for Northern Ireland at the end of 90 minutes?

Tommy Wright
Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper on Radio Ulster

There's enough energy in the team to get the three points we really need.

Tommy Wright
Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper on Radio Ulster

When the Green and White Army get behind them it will really help the team and I think Michael will be looking for a fast start.

Here come the teams at Windsor Park.

There's some noise as Jonny Evans lead the hosts out in Belfast.

It's time for the anthems and then we'll be under way.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

He may still only be 19, but Conor Bradley missing out through injury is a major blow for Michael O'Neill and Northern Ireland.

The manager had seemed hopeful on Sunday that the Liverpool youngster would recover from his knee problem to play but his absence means Trai Hume switches flank to play at right wing-back, having played on the left in Copenhagen.

Craig Cathcart recovering from injury to come back into the starting line-up is a boost and he takes his place in an experienced back three that has captain Jonny Evans in the middle and Paddy McNair on the right.

There is a change up front as Dion Charles, who had such a good season for Bolton, starts ahead of of Shayne Lavery while Isaac Price starts again, but you would imagine he will get closer to Charles as a number 10 more than he did to Lavery on Friday.

Ciaron Brown will perhaps feel unfortunate to drop out of the team as Jordan Thompson starts in a slightly unfamiliar left wing-back role.

Michael O'Neill has made three changes from Friday's defeat in Copenhagen.

Liverpool's Conor Bradley, who hyper-extended his knee in the first half, misses out and will be a big loss.

Ciaron Brown is another to drop put of the team, and the pair are replaced by the experienced Craig Cathcart and Jordan Thompson.

Up front, Dion Charles comes in for Shayne Lavery.

Image source, BBC Sport

Kazakhstan have been going well in qualifying and have made just one change from Friday's win over San Marino.

Islambek Kuat makes way for key midilder Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov.

Image source, BBC Sport

Kazakhstan are a bit of an unknown quantity with the majority of their players coming out of the domestic league.

With 12 goals in 29 caps, CSKA Moscow midfielder Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov is the danger man for the visitors and netted in their dramatic 3-2 win over Denmark.

That win was capped off by Askhat Tagybergen and Abat Aimbetov, who play for Ordabasy and Astana respectively.

Tagybergen (pictured) has had twice as many shots (8) and created twice as many chances (6) as any other player for Kazakhstan so far in Euro 2024 qualifying.

They also have the safety net of a spot in the Nations League play-offs, so can afford to play with that bit of freedom compared to their Group H rivals.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

How the defeat by Denmark ended will have been difficult to take for Northern Ireland and no doubt made for a long journey home.

However, manager Michael O'Neill and captain Jonny Evans were in a positive frame of mind when they sat down in front of journalists on Sunday for the pre-match press conference.

Evans admitted that the players, just like the supporters, couldn't help discussing the incident that led to Callum Marshall's last-gasp equaliser being ruled out for offside.

However, O'Neill insisted he and the squad had drawn a line under it as he and his players looked to get back to Windsor Park for the visit of Kazakhstan.

Image source, Pacemaker

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill has said his young players must make the transition from taking part in international matches to winning.

O'Neill had to again rely on a host of inexperienced youngsters for Friday's 1-0 away defeat by Denmark.

It was a second loss in three Euro 2024 qualifiers for NI and, while strongly praising the young players for how they have performed, O'Neill wants them to start believing they can win games - beginning with Monday night's meeting with Kazakhstan in Belfast.

"They [the young players] are enjoying the experience of international football but what they have to do is get to the point where there is taking part and there is winning," said O'Neill, who had 10 senior players missing through injury.

"That is what we have to get to in this group and it may take a little bit of time because they are younger players.

"Some of them are only starting to believe they can play at this level. Now they have to start to believe - hopefully quickly - 'we can win' at this level as well.

"That is what we hope we can instil in them over this campaign and, obviously, with the game on Monday night."

Image source, Press Eye

BBC Sounds

We'll have live coverage of tonight's game on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster.

Tommy Wright and Keith Gillespie join Gavin Andrews ahead of the game, with John O'Neill and Michael McNamee on commentary.

It'll be live from 7.30pm, so catch it then!

Northern Ireland's two cutest fans are also two of the most important!

Linda and Ebony are making football matches more accessible for fans. Good doggies!

Will it be a walk in the park for Northern Ireland this evening?

Northern Ireland have scored just two goals in their last eight home matches in qualifying for major tournaments.

Indeed, the last five home games they have played in qualifying games have seen just two goals scored, a 1-0 win over Lithuania in November 2021 and 1-0 defeat to Finland in March.

Northern Ireland have lost their last two qualifying matches, going down 1-0 against both Finland and Denmark. Excluding play-offs, they've not lost three in a row since October 2013, while they last did so without scoring in September 2004.

Image source, Press Eye

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has said that one of the biggest challenges of international management is playing two contrasting types of opposition in a short space of time.

His side went into Friday night's match against Denmark 43 places behind their hosts in the world rankings but tonight they are 50 places above Windsor Park visitors Kazakhstan.

Defensive shape, discipline and a rigid adherence to a plan was the aim of the game for O'Neill men in Copenhagen, but their approach will have to be of a much more attacking nature tonight.

Let's see how they go about changing that dynamic.

There's plenty of football around the grounds tonight with England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland all in action.

After defeating Malta on Friday, England are big favourites to beat North Macedonia at Old Trafford and continue their unbeaten start to qualifying.

The Republic of Ireland face a must-win game with minnows Gibraltar in Dublin. Anything other than a win and their hopes would surely be over.

Last, but not least, Wales are looking to bounce back from their shock defeat by Armenia with a tricky fixture away to Turkey.

We'll be focusing on Northern Ireland here, but you can check out the other live texts on the BBC Sport website and we'll have updates at half-time.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Getty Images

Over it? Not really.

West Ham teenager Callum Marshall was in dreamland when soon after coming on for his international bow his flicked volley from Evans' downward header nestled in the far corner, but his dream soon turned to a nightmare when the goal was eventually ruled out after a lengthily VAR review.

The striker, who scored in the FA Youth Cup final as the Hammers claimed the trophy, said that those final few minutes represented the inevitable highs and lows that come with football.

"When I saw the ball come in I knew Jonny was going to win the header and I just threw my leg up and hooked it in, explained the teenager.

"It was the best few minutes of my career so far, by a mile, and then followed by one of the lowest points of my career when it got called offside.

"I haven't got to watch it back but I have heard it was very tight with Jonny. It is unfortunate, I'm not a big fan of VAR but it is what it is.

"That is football and I just have to move on and hopefully I will score in the next game," he grinned.

It's safe to say Michael O'Neill didn't agree with the VAR call in Copenhagen...

He branded decision as a "joke" and added: "That is not why we brought VAR into the game".

"I think it is a joke to be honest. It was brought in to determine really clear errors, not why someone's heel is offside when a free-kick is taken 40 yards away.

"When it is taken Jonny is onside, so why you would feel the need to go back and look at the line.

"I can see why people don't like it if that is how it is going to be used".

It was the stuff of dreams...until it wasn't.

Callum Marshall thought he had scored a dramatic late equaliser against Denmark on Friday, only for it to be rued out after a five-minute VAR check.

After an agonising wait, Northern Ireland's hopes were dashed. The beautiful game, eh?

We still can't believe it took that long.

Image source, Press Eye

Image source, Getty Images

Michael O'Neill said after Friday night's defeat that he is not focusing on qualification with such a young and inexperienced squad, but is determined for Northern Ireland to restore their "winning culture" at home again.

"We have already seen the nature of the results in this group. A win on Monday puts us on six points," he said.

"We can then look forward to the second half of the campaign from there. We obviously have some tough away games to come in September, but I think it is important we start to build that winning culture again, particularly at home.

"When we were consistently competing for qualification, it was our home form that was the backbone of that. We have to start showing we can win games here [at Windsor Park].

"None of the games will be easy. And Monday night will be every bit as difficult as the other teams who come here.

"They will present a different type of challenge to the Danes, but the most important thing is building that belief and confidence in the team to play here and get results."