3 PREVIOUS MAGICAL NIGHTS AT ROCKING WINDSOR PARK...

JAN 1958: N Ireland 2 Italy 1 NORTHERN Ireland reached the 1958 World Cup thanks to goals from Jimmy Mcilroy and Wilbur Cush as they topped a threeteam qualifying pool that also included Portugal. Northern Ireland would go on to reach the quarter-finals of that summer’s tournament in Sweden where they lost 4-0 to France. 1958 remains the only World Cup

Italy have failed to qualify for. NOV 1981: N Ireland 1 Israel 0 THE home side needed a win over Israel to book their place at the 1982 World Cup. Gerry Armstrong – who’d write his name in folklore at the finals in Spain – volleyed home a Billy Hamilton knockdown in the 27th minute to secure second spot in the group behind Scotland. Armstrong later remarked: “At the end we did two or three laps of honour.” OCT 2015: N Ireland 3 Greece 1

STEVEN DAVIS bagged a brace and Josh Magennis chipped in with a header to book the team’s place in France as Michael O’neill became the first manager to lead Northern Ireland to the Euro Championships. “It’s a phenomenal feeling,” he said.