Summary

  • Switzerland 2-0 Northern Ireland (res)

  • Zuber scores in first-half stoppage time

  • Faasnacht adds a second in second-half injury-time

  • Lewis sent-off for two yellow cards on 37 minutes

  1. 'A must-win game'published at 19:41 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

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

    Quote Message

    It's going to be a difficult night but realistically we must win this game to have any hope of qualification. We're going into the lion's den and it is a very tough test but Northern Ireland have a history of producing upsets in the past.

  2. Hello, this is your captain speakingpublished at 19:40 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Paddy McNair will wear the captain's armband at the Stade de Geneve this evening as he wins his 50th Northern Ireland cap.

    He's quickly built up the appearances since making his debut in 2015 and the Middlesbrough man is one of the first names on Ian Baraclough's team sheet, whether that be in defence or midfield.

    "I used to go and watch Northern Ireland as fan so it will be a proud feeling to lead the side out. I wish my mum and dad could be there to see it," he said.

    "I'm a quiet lad around the dressing room so I'm not going to be doing a roaring speech before the game. I'm just going to be myself but I'm looking forward to leading out the boys."

    Paddy McNairImage source, Press Eye
  3. Postpublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

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  4. 'We came here to win'published at 19:37 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Quote Message

    We felt like we had to be a bit tighter tonight to deny space for certain players. I think it is a decent balance in the team. They have made changes, mostly in the attacking areas and they will look to get at us with pace. It's an intriguing challenge and it's one we are ready for. We have come here with the mindset to win. We will have periods where we will get pushed back but we want to be as proactive as possible.

    Ian Baraclough, Northern Ireland manager

  5. Postpublished at 19:36 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Northern Ireland's one vision is to get three points and Baraclough will hope Steven Davis and co can produce a kind of magic on the night.

    Another one bites the dust as Jonny Evans is the latest player to be ruled out of the game but, as always, the show must go on and NI will be under pressure as they want to break free from their poor recent record against the Swiss.

    Don't stop me now...actually, now is the perfect time to stop. Sorry.

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  6. ‘He actually taught me things as a coach’ - the discovery and rise of Conor Bradleypublished at 19:34 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Given the close-knit nature of Northern Irish football, we absolutly love to get excited about emerging talents from these shores.

    However, there seems to be something really special about Liverpool youngster Conor Bradley, who made his competitive international debut last time out against Switzerland.

    "What sticks in my head was how he looked me in the eye, how he shook my hand and how he reacted when I spoke to him - a country boy with a down-to-earth personality," explained former Dungannon Swifts coach Joe McAree.

    "He was a forward player for us, spraying the ball around the pitch. His passing was exceptional. His awareness of where to distribute a ball - that was Conor's strength, and he could cover the ground as well.

    "When Liverpool found out that Conor had joined us, they sent one of their senior coaches across to check out where Conor was playing his football, what the facilities were like as well as the coaching and advice he was getting.

    "I've never in my life known any club to do that, but the coach came across, wrote a great report and went back to Liverpool very happy."

    Read more about his meteoric rise here.

    Conor BradleyImage source, Inpho
  7. Postpublished at 19:33 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    This is a cracker from NI's resident statto Marshall Gillespie!

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  8. Team newspublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    While a few key players are back for Northern Ireland, the same can be said for the Swiss.

    A certain Xherdan Shaqiri is back in the side after missing September's qualifiers, while Breel Embolo is a handy man to have in attack.

    The Swiss are a formidable team at home and recently held European Champions Italy to a goalless draw.

    It's a big, big task this evening.

    Switzerland: Sommer, Rodriguez, Akanji, Elvedi, Mbabu, Freuler, Zuber, Zakaria, Shaqiri, Embolo, Steffen.

    ShaqiriImage source, Getty Images
  9. Postpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

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  10. Listen livepublished at 19:29 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    BBC Radio Ulster

    You can follow tonight's game live on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster.

    Former Northern Ireland duo Jim Magilton and Keith Gillespie will be in studio with Joel Taggart, which should provide plenty of laughs among all the analysis.

    John O'Neill is the man on the mic for the match alongside Michael McNamee.

  11. 'You can't be forced into doing anything'published at 19:27 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Football managers, the Premier League, governing bodies and even politicians are weighing in on the issue of players being vaccinated against coronavirus.

    On Tuesday, Republic of Ireland and West Brom forward Callum Robinson said he would not be vaccinated - despite having had Covid-19 twice.

    So with fewer than half of players at most Premier League and English Football League clubs vaccinated, why might some players be hesitant and how could that impact football?

    Stuart Dallas, Niall McGinn and Ian Baraclough have their say.

    Media caption,

    'You can't be forced into doing anything' - Dallas, McGinn & Baraclough on vaccine push

  12. Northern Ireland team has optionspublished at 19:26 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI

    Ian Baraclough has pretty much nailed his colours to a 3-5-2 formation recently - or 5-3-2, depending on how you look at it.

    Tonight's team has options, though.

    Looking at it, it would seem that it will be a back five, with Ciaron Brown, Craig Cathcart and Dan Ballard in the middle, with Stuart Dallas and Jamal Lewis on the flanks.

    The question then is whether it is a midfield four behind Conor Washington up front, or whether it's a midfield three and possibly Paddy McNair playing in a more advanced role behind Washington.

    A midfield four would probably mean wide role for McNair and George Saville, which neither are overly accustomed to, but we shall see.

    All will be revealed soon.

  13. Team Newspublished at 19:24 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    With so many injuries it was always going to be a fresh line-up for the trip to Geneva this evening.

    Ian Baraclough makes three changes and will stick with his trusty three centre-backs of Craig Cathcart, Ciaron Brown and Danial Ballard in front of the in-form Baily Peacock-Farrell.

    Jamal Lewis and Stuart Dallas look like they have been tasked with providing width on the flanks while Paddy McNair takes the armband.

    Jordan Thompson and Steven Davis are two tidy players in the centre of midfield and are joined by George Saville, who impressed against the Swiss in the infamous World Cup play-off all those years ago.

    In the absence of Shayne Lavery, Conor Washington will lead the line and it remains to be see if McNair or Saville play just off the lone front man.

    Northern Ireland starting line-up v Switzerland, World Cup QualifyingImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland starting line-up v Switzerland, World Cup Qualifying

  14. How things standpublished at 19:22 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Before a ball has even been kicked in Geneva, there's good news for Northern Ireland as Lithuania stunned Bulgaria 3-1 early today.

    That takes the Bulgarians, who Northern Ireland face on Tuesday, out of the equation for a shock second place, and ultimately makes it a two-way shootout between the Swiss and NI.

    Game on!

    Group C table
  15. 'New Northern Ireland must keep picture in their head and stick to the plan' - McAuleypublished at 19:21 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Former Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley is BBC Sport's columnist and he's had his say on injuries, identity and tough times.

    "The Northern Ireland team's WhatsApp group will have been busy over the last few weeks," he said.

    Long before they met up on Monday for this vital World Cup double-header, manager Ian Baraclough and his coaching staff will have been getting to work on ensuring every player has a clear picture in their head of the positive elements of last month's home draw against Switzerland.

    In front of a rocking Windsor Park, Northern Ireland had a look at Switzerland and hurt them. That's not an easy thing to do - the Swiss knocked world champions France out of the Euros in the summer, don't forget - and it's vital the squad fully understands just how they did it."

    Read Gareth's column ahead of the game here.

    Gareth McAuleyImage source, Inpho
  16. Postpublished at 19:16 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Location, location, location.

    The Stade de Geneve will host tonight's tantalising Group C encounter - if you like maroon then it's the stadium for you.

    Will there be three points for Northern Ireland at the end of the rainbow?

    Stade de GenèveImage source, Inpho
  17. 'No Churchillian speeches' - Baraclough keeps message simplepublished at 19:13 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Ian Baraclough has said his final message to his players will be a simple one before Saturday's vital World Cup qualifier against Switzerland.

    Northern Ireland go into the Group C meeting in Geneva in third place, three points behind the second-placed Swiss in the race for a play-off spot.

    Baraclough said he and his players are fully aware of the huge importance of the game to their qualification hopes, but insisted it will not alter his final preparations.

    "I don't think there will be too many Churchillian speeches," said the former NI Under-21 boss, who is without a number of important players for the trip.

    "It will be a simple message, nothing too over-complicated. You are reminding them throughout the week as you are preparing, and the players know themselves about the magnitude of this game.

    "For me, it is simple nuggets of information either to individuals or to the group. You feel it building during the week and sometimes the shortest of things to say before they go out is the best."

    Ian BaracloughImage source, Inpho
  18. Who's here, who's not?published at 19:09 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    The good news for Ian Baraclough is that Paddy McNair, Josh Magennis and Stuart Dallas are available again after missing the reverse fixture last month.

    The bad news, and there's a lot of it, is that Jonny Evans is again unavailable with his ongoing injury problems.

    Shayne Lavery, Ali McCann, Gavin Whyte, Liam Boyce, Corry Evans and Michael Smith are also missing, so just like in September's matches Baraclough will be hoping some more of his fringe players step up and fill the void.

    Jonny EvansImage source, Inpho
  19. Last time outpublished at 19:05 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Given their history of handballs and infamous play-offs, a lot was made of Northern Ireland's qualifier with the Swiss at Windsor Park in September.

    Bailey Peacock-Farrell once again saved a penalty as Northern Ireland drew with Switzerland in a tense goalless draw.

    Under-strength NI could not capitalise on a fine first-half display as their qualification hopes suffered a setback.

    Shayne Lavery fired just wide after a blistering run and Peacock-Farrell saved Haris Seferovic's spot-kick.

    A passionate home crowd of 15,660 returned to Windsor Park in numbers for the first time in almost two years, but they couldn't roar Baraclough's men to victory.

    Steven DavisImage source, Inpho
  20. Now it's over to NI...published at 19:01 British Summer Time 9 October 2021

    Switzerland v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    The Republic got the job done in Baku.

    Can Northern Ireland follow suit and secure a big result against the Swiss in Geneva?

    Stay with us as we bring you live text updates and Sportsound coverage of that one.