Northern Ireland v Germany, Thurs 5th October

O IRELAND O F F I C I A L M A T C H D A Y P R O G R A M M E P R I C E £ 4

Northern Ireland v Germany FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Qualifying Group C Thursday 5 October 2017 National Football Stadium at Windsor Park Kick-Off: 19.45

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CONTENTS

TEAMS

2

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

3

MICHAEL O’NEILL

5

PATRICK NELSON

7

JONNY EVANS INTERVIEW 10 NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD 20 MICHAEL McGOVERN INTERVIEW 22 50 GAMES IN CHARGE 26 THE OPPONENTS - GERMANY 33 INTERNATIONAL RECORD 47 MASCOTS 52

Official Publication by Irish Football Association National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Donegall Avenue, Belfast, BT12 6LW Editor Nigel Tilson Head of Communications Neil Brittain Design and Print Minprint Ltd, 401 Castlereagh Road, Belfast, Co Down, BT5 6QP Tel: 028 9070 5205 www.minprint.co.uk

Irish Football Association President David Martin Chief Executive Patrick Nelson Advertising Irish Football Association Pictures Press Eye

Cover photo: Tonight’s match against the world champions is manager Michael O’Neill’s 50th game in charge of Northern Ireland. See pages 26 and 27 for a special feature on his achievements to date. Please note that the views in this programme do not necessarily reflect those of the Irish Football Association.

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NORTHERN IRELAND

GERMANY

Michael O’Neill Manager

Joachim Low Head Coach

Roy Carroll Linfield Alan Mannus St Johnstone

Bernd Leno Bayer Leverkusen Marc-Andre ter Stegen FC Barcelona Kevin Trapp Paris Saint-Germain Jerome Boateng Bayern Munich Matthias Ginter Borussia Mönchengladbach Mats Hummels Bayern Munich Joshua Kimmich Bayern Munich Shkodran Mustafi Arsenal Marvin Plattenhardt Hertha Berlin Antonio Rüdiger Chelsea Niklas Süle Bayern Munich Julian Brandt Bayer Leverkusen Emre Can Liverpool Julian Draxler Paris Saint-Germain Thomas Muller Bayern Munich Sebastian Rudy Bayern Munich Leroy Sané Manchester City Lars Stindl Borussia Mönchengladbach Leon Goretzka Schalke Toni Kroos Real Madrid

Michael McGovern Norwich City Chris Brunt West Bromwich Albion Jonny Evans West Bromwich Albion Tom Flanagan Burton Albion Lee Hodson Glasgow Rangers Daniel Lafferty Sheffield United Gareth McAuley West Bromwich Albion Conor McLaughlin Millwall Callum Morris Dunfermline Athletic Adam Thompson Bradford City *

Stuart Dallas Leeds United Steven Davis Southampton Corry Evans Blackburn Rovers Shane Ferguson Millwall Jordan Jones Kilmarnock Matthew Lund Burton Albion Niall McGinn Gwangju FC Oliver Norwood Fulham ** Paul Paton St Johnstone George Saville Millwall

Sandro Wagner Hoffenheim Amin Younes Ajax Amsterdam

Kyle Lafferty Heart of Midlothian Josh Magennis Charlton Athletic Conor Washington Queen’s Park Rangers

*on loan from Bury **on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion

Green and White

White and Black

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee

Danny Makkelie NED

Assistant Referee 1 Assistant Referee 2 Fourth Official Referee Assessor Commissioner

Mario Diks NED

Hessel Steegstra NED Bernie Blom NED Vitor Melo Pereira POR Philippe Prudhon FRA

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PRESIDENT’S

WELCOME

On behalf of the Irish Football Association it gives me great pleasure to welcome the officials, players and supporters of Germany to our National Football Stadium in Belfast for this evening's FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Group C qualifying match.

It is huge to have the world champions and number one international team on the planet visit Northern Ireland. Game nine in the group brings both countries to what is the 'qualification weekend' and it will be an exciting few days throughout Europe with most of the groups still undecided. Germany, with maximum points from the games played, are looking to seal qualification this evening but the Northern Ireland home record is impressive and we will hope to take our visitors into the final series of games on Sunday. The two most recent of our 16 internationals against Germany were in 2016, a 1-0 defeat in Paris during Euro 2016 and a 2-0 defeat in Hannover last October at the beginning of this World Cup qualifying campaign. More than 30 years have passed since our home and away Euro 1984 qualifying group wins over West Germany, both by a 1-0 scoreline.

Our last fixture, a 2-0 defeat of Czech Republic here in Belfast last month, ensured second place in Group C with two games to play. Our final group match is against Norway in Oslo on Sunday and the target of cementing a November play-off place is well within the players' grasp. This final home group game will again see the National Football Stadium at capacity, as it was for the previous four, such is the interest in the national team and their performances. The support has been magnificent throughout the campaign and has created a fantastic atmosphere inside the stadium, more of which we look forward to this evening. I hope you all enjoy another exciting game and have a safe journey home. David J Martin President Irish Football Association

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MANAGER’S VIEW

I was particularly pleased with the match against Czech Republic last month, not only with the 2-0 scoreline but the overall manner of the victory.

Once we went in front I felt that, while the Czechs had a lot of possession, we were never really put under severe pressure and the defence was superbly marshalled by Jonny Evans - what a player he is! Of course that result means that we will definitely finish second in Group C. While in itself that is a tremendous achievement, it does not yet guarantee us a play-off position. We still need at least a point to be sure of that, although other teams’ results elsewhere might work in our favour. Tonight we welcome the world champions to Belfast. This is the third time in just over a year that we have locked horns. For everyone involved - players, coaches, backroom staff and you the fans - playing Germany is a wonderful occasion, and being the world champions just adds to their allure. To compete against players of the quality of Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Julian Draxler remains a privileged challenge and will provide great experience for the team. In our previous two matches we have failed to score, so we will be aiming to change that tonight, however I am proud to say that we share the best defensive record in the qualifiers with the Germans, each of us having only conceded two goals (in our case against Germany!). I know it is an overworked cliché but we must deal with each match on its own merits and regardless

of the outcome of tonight’s match we have another one on Sunday against Norway in Oslo and we will remain positive to ensure that we are in the pot for the play-off draw on 17 October. Once there the rest will look after itself. This group of players deserves nothing less. Their application and endeavours (with not a little skill) have been remarkable, and having tasted the heady flavour of the Euros last summer they want to experience it again in Russia come June 2018. We are fortunate to have top quality players like Steven Davis and Jonny Evans leading this group and the others have responded brilliantly. All of us are determined to keep the qualification dream alive, and tonight we will all be drawing on the experience and lessons learnt in our previous matches versus Germany. World champions or not, I for one can’t wait to see Germany in action at the redeveloped National Football Stadium. With your spectacular support here in Belfast we can compete with anyone and I thank you for your part in our victories in San Marino and against the Czechs last month, and for your ongoing support for me personally. It is appreciated. Enjoy the game and bring it on! Michael O’Neill Northern Ireland Manager

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GOOD EVENING

Welcome to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park for the final home game in the ‘regular season’ of European qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia.

Our German opponents tonight bring with them a formidable array of facts and data; current world champions, number one in the FIFA rankings, and eight wins from eight so far in this campaign. It’s a highly anticipated top two clash in Group C, and even with their perfect record so far Die Mannschaft have not yet qualified for the finals given that Northern Ireland have been nipping at their heels throughout the qualifiers. These are the sort of nights we hoped for when we embarked on the stadium rebuilding project and tonight there will again be a full house of noise and colour as the Green and White Army will Michael’s team on to yet another positive result. Our supporters have been nothing short of spectacular throughout this whole campaign, home and away. More than ever the team need that vital backing tonight and I have no doubt it will be delivered at 11 out of 10 on the volume dial for the full 90 minutes. Yes, it’s more likely that we will be in the play- offs by the time the dust settles on this period of international football next Tuesday night, but it is incredible to think that the only goals we have conceded in this entire campaign to date were in Hannover last October, and that no defence has been meaner in the tournament. In football there is always that mix of looking back at past achievements and dreaming of those achievements which might be delivered in future.

In that vein tonight we bring to mind our friend and colleague at the Irish Football Association, Ian Stewart, who made his home debut against (West) Germany almost 35 years ago, and scored the only goal of the game that night. Although he’s no longer on the wing, Ian is still a major contributor to the Association in his role as Grassroots Development Manager, helping people throughout the country enjoy football day and daily. Looking to the future, as Ian always does, we were delighted to launch our first Elite Performance School partnership last week. Integrated College Dungannon and the Association will now be working together on the coaching and academic sides of development for our first cohort of boys joining the school - and this is a major step forward. Jim Magilton and his Club NI coaching team will look after the football side, and principal Andrew Sleeth and his team will manage educational and pastoral development for the boys. The hope is we will nurture some of Northern Ireland’s international players of the future, but for now let’s enjoy the amazing endeavours of our current squad.

Enjoy the game! Patrick Nelson Chief Executive Irish Football Association

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SPONSOR’S WELCOME

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Vauxhall are delighted to be supporting the Northern Ireland squad in their penultimate World Cup qualifying game for Russia 2018.

Tonight’s match at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park sees Michael O’Neill’s side come up against reigning world champions Germany, who are currently group leaders and favourites for automatic qualification. However, second-placed Northern Ireland will be looking to build on their winning form of late to make new history to reach the finals in Russia, so it should be a fascinating contest. The atmosphere throughout the qualifying campaign has been incredible and we want to give them one last push to secure qualification.

Your support is famous around the world and we know that the crowd at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park can make the difference and we have no doubt that you will show your great support to Michael O’Neill’s side again tonight. #GetIN Join us on Twitter @VauxhallNI for matchday conversation. To find out more about our Vauxhall #GetIN campaign, and for a chance to WIN a signed Northern Ireland team shirt, visit vauxhallfootball.co.uk.

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Jonny Evans hopes there's room for another iconic Belfast night on his Northern Ireland CV.

The cultured West Bromwich Albion defender made his debut as a teenager in a famous 3-2 win over Spain in a never to be forgotten European qualifier in 2006. At only 18 years of age Evans - who had yet to play for Manchester United - watched on

as David Healy scored a hat-trick destined for Northern Ireland football folklore. More than a decade later the 29-year- old hopes to ensure tonight's World Cup showdown with Germany evokes similar misty eyed memories in future years.

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SMALLVICTORIES

THE NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM SPONSOR

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game to finish our home campaign off with. “We know we'll have to put in a great performance to get a result because the Germans have quality all over the pitch. The key is to keep doing what we've been good at in recent years.” Memories of that famous qualifying win over the Spanish - who would go on to win the Euro 2008 tournament - are somewhat hazy for the WBA captain, however.

In football parlance a win over Joachim Low's star studded line-up - who boast a perfect record in Group C - would be 'right up there'. Evans said: “It's definitely the biggest nation we've had visiting Belfast in a number of years and it's a game we can really look forward to. “With second place in the group already secure we can go out and enjoy it. There's no pressure on us and it's just a fantastic

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JONNY EVANS

Position Centre Back/Left Back Date Of Birth 03.01.1988 Place Of Birth

DEFENDER

Evans recalls Healy's treble - the third a sumptuous lob over Iker Casillas - but most prominent in his mind is an excruciating episode of cramp while tracking the devilishly skilful Xavi. The explosive shot of pain as he jackknifed his body to shadow a sidestep from the Barcelona star at the old Windsor Park is seared in his mind. “I'll never forget the cramp I took that night,” he chuckled. “It's actually weird looking back on that night because I have very few other memories of the game. “I remember Healy's goals. I also remember Fernando Torres playing right wing and Sergio Ramos playing right back, so it was a busy enough night! “But I was actually talking to my brother-in-law about it a few weeks ago and I asked him to name the starting line-up. I asked him 'can you remember the team?' It was actually very difficult.” If the Spanish game fizzed by in the blink of an eye for a teenage Evans, the seasoned defender of today is bracing himself for a gruelling 90 minutes against the reigning world champions. He said: “If you actually go through the German team every player is playing at the top level. “When we played them in Hannover 12 months ago we realised how good a team they are all over the pitch. They have great timing in their game and are very well drilled. “You can tell a lot of their players have played together when coming through the ranks. They have a great understanding. “It'll be a different night in Belfast, but that doesn't necessarily mean the result can swing in our favour. We know we'll have to perform really well for that to happen.” Words Darren Fullerton, Daily Mirror

Belfast Height 188cm Weight 77kg

CLUB RECORD

6

SQUAD NO

CLUBS Manchester United Royal Antwerp (loan) Sunderland (loan) Sunderland (loan) West Bromwich Albion

131

11 18 15 65

Caps 63 Goals 2 INTERNATIONAL RECORD 5 SQUAD NO Debut 06.09.2006 v Spain (H) Won 3-2

Northern Ireland U16 Northern Ireland U17 Northern Ireland U21

6 8 3

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NORTHERN IRELAND 2 Evans 28', Brunt 41' CZECH REPUBLIC 0

2018 WORLD CUP EUROPEAN QUALIFYING GROUP C 04.09.2017 National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Belfast

STATS

POSSESSION %

23

77

SHOTS

5

11

SHOTS ON TARGET

2

1

CORNERS

3

6

FOULS

6

8

TEAMS

1 McGovern 2 McLaughlin 18 Hughes 5 Evans 11 Brunt 16 Norwood 21 Magennis 8 Davis 13 Evans 14 Dallas 9 Washington Substitutes 10 Lafferty 12 Mannus 15 Paton 17 McLaughlin 19 McCartan 20 Lafferty 22 Lund 23 Carroll 3 Ferguson 4 Flanagan 6 Hodson 7 McGinn

1 Vaclik 3 Kalas

17 Suchy 22 Novak 4 Gebre Selassie 8 Darida 15 Soucek 18 Boril 19 Krejci 11 Krmencik

14 Jankto Substitutes 2 Kaderábek 5 Hovorka 6 Luftner 7 Zmrhal 9 Dockal 10 Husbauer 12 Horava 13 Kopic 16 Koubek 20 Barak 21 Kliment 23 Pavlenka

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Vauxhall Motors has been manufacturing and selling cars in the UK since 1903. Just as our vehicles have been part of the fabric of British life for over 100 years, we’ve been celebrating Britain’s football culture with our sponsorship of the England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales national teams since 2011. As proud sponsor of the Northern Ireland Team, we created the #GetIN campaign to celebrate the moments of elation – big and small – that happen during football. Those little moments when we all come together – the winning goals, the blue sky, the BBQs with friends – they’re all #GetIN moments.

Your team making the final? That’s a #GetIN moment too. These moments unite fans, from die-hard supporters who watch every game to those who switch on just for the final; we encourage everyone to celebrate. To find out more on the campaign, competitions, exclusive access to players and latest news, visit www.vauxhallfootball.co.uk

THE NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM SPONSOR

NORTHERN IRELAND 2 CZECH REPUBLIC 0

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NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD

ROY CARROLL GOALKEEPER

ALAN MANNUS GOALKEEPER

MICHAEL McGOVERN GOALKEEPER

CHRIS BRUNT DEFENDER

Club

Club

Club

Club

Linfield

St Johnstone

Norwich City

West Bromwich Albion

Age 40

Caps 45

Goals 0

Age 35

Caps 9

Goals 0

Age 33

Caps 24

Goals 0

Age 32

Caps 61

Goals 3

JONNY EVANS DEFENDER

TOM FLANAGAN DEFENDER

LEE HODSON DEFENDER

DANIEL LAFFERTY DEFENDER

Club

Club

Club

Club

West Bromwich Albion

Burton Albion

Glasgow Rangers

Sheffield United

Age 28

Caps 13

Goals 0

Age 29

Caps 63

Goals 2

Age 25

Caps 1

Goals 0

Age 26

Caps 21

Goals 0

CONOR McLAUGHLIN DEFENDER

CALLUM MORRIS DEFENDER

ADAM THOMPSON DEFENDER

GARETH McAULEY DEFENDER

Club

Club

Club

Club

West Bromwich Albion

Millwall

Dunfermline Athletic

Bradford City*

Age 37

Caps 72

Goals 9

Age 26

Caps 28

Goals 1

Age 27

Caps 0

Goals 0

Age 25

Caps 2

Goals 0

*on loan fromBury

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STEVEN DAVIS MIDFIELDER

CORRY EVANS MIDFIELDER

SHANE FERGUSON MIDFIELDER

STUART DALLAS MIDFIELDER

Club

Club

Club

Club

Leeds United

Southampton

Blackburn Rovers

Millwall

Age 26

Caps 24

Goals 2

Age 32

Caps 97

Goals 10

Age 27

Caps 41

Goals 1

Age 26

Caps 33

Goals 1

OLIVER NORWOOD MIDFIELDER

NIALL McGINN MIDFIELDER

JORDAN JONES MIDFIELDER

MATTHEW LUND MIDFIELDER

Club

Club

Club

Club

Kilmarnock

Burton Albion

Gwangju

Fulham*

Age 22

Caps 0

Goals 0

Age 26

Caps 3

Goals 0

Age 30

Caps 53

Goals 3

Age 26

Caps 48

Goals 0

*on loan fromBrightonandHoveAlbion

PAUL PATON MIDFIELDER

GEORGE SAVILLE MIDFIELDER

KYLE LAFFERTY FORWARD

JOSH MAGENNIS FORWARD

CONOR WASHINGTON FORWARD

Club

Club

Club

Club

QPR Age 25 Club

St Johnstone

Millwall

Heart of Midlothian

Charlton Athletic

Age 30

Caps 5

Goals 0

Caps 12

Goals 3

Age 24

Caps 0

Goals 0

Age 30

Caps 64

Goals 20

Age 27

Caps 31

Goals 3

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WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING’

Michael McGovern admits he owes a lot to his heroics against Germany last summer.

The Fermanagh man earned plaudit after plaudit following the Euro 2016 group game against the World Cup holders when he produced a string of stunning saves to keep the score at 1-0 in Paris. While the quiet and unassuming McGovern had gone under the radar for many people up to that point, European football suddenly had a new star between the sticks.

“I have a lot to be grateful for from the Germany game,” said the former Hamilton and Falkirk man. “I’ve no doubt that performance, or at least the kind things that were said about me after the game, played a part in getting me my move to Norwich a little while later. “It’s the one thing a lot of people like to ask me about but to be honest I have

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He said: “I really can't believe how the whole group has gone for us so far. Every game we've wanted to win we've managed to win. Defensively we've been really, really solid and it's just gone exactly to plan. Football doesn't always go like that so it's probably a bit surprising. “I'm not sure of the permutations and it's very complicated in terms of the seeds and unseeded teams but I'd be very surprised if we missed out with 19 points.” And if things don’t go well against the Germans then the keeper believes Northern Ireland are more than capable of picking up a result in Oslo if they need to in the final game. Mind you, he is not thinking that far ahead. The focus for now is very much on Muller, Hummels, Kroos and co. He said: “It will be a very difficult game against Germany. This will be the third time we've faced them in 17 months so we know how hard it will be. “But it's football - you see some of the surprising results already in the qualifiers and we know we are more than capable of getting results, particularly at home.” Germany have never lost an away World Cup qualifier; a record which stretches back to 1934. However, McGovern is nevertheless hopeful of a positive result. He said: “I think we can get a result. Look at France drawing 0-0 with Luxembourg in Paris last month - anything can happen in football. “With the shape we have, and the work ethic we show, we are a hard team to score against. “San Marino or Germany - the world champions - we'll just keep doing what we've been doing because it is working.” Words Mark McIntosh, The Sun

never actually watched the game back from start to finish. “I’m the first to admit it was probably the best performance of my career but I think if you get carried away with one game and want to watch it all the time then you take your eye off the ball about what you should be doing.” He explained that after the Euros he had a few clips sent to him and it was good to see some of his saves again, however he doesn’t really think about the game at the Parc des Princes any more. The Norwich City keeper said: “We have, of course, also played Germany since in this campaign and last autumn I remember being more concerned about what I needed to do in that game than thinking about the game in the summer. “When I finish playing it will be a nice thing to look back on but until then all I care about are the games I can hopefully influence.” McGovern conceded once in France but twice in Hannover last autumn, although he believes that 2-0 defeat in Germany was a better performance than the one at the Parc des Princes. He said: “I know people will look at the results and think we didn’t play as well in Germany but I think it was a more complete performance from us. “Germany scored two early goals and a lot of people probably thought we’d get a hiding but the lads were brilliant. I didn’t really have much to do in the game and that says everything about how the lads played.” McGovern has kept clean sheets in seven out of the eight qualifiers in this campaign and the only goals Northern Ireland have conceded came in that Hannover clash. Since the last game against the Germans the Northern Ireland keeper has gone 613 minutes without being beaten, however Michael O’Neill’s troops may still need to add to their 19 points to secure a play-off place.

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MICHAEL McGOVERN

Position Goalkeeper Date Of Birth 12.07.1984 Place Of Birth Enniskillen

GOALKEEPER

Height 191cm Weight 89kg

CLUB RECORD

33

SQUAD NO

CLUBS Celtic

0

Stranraer (loan) St Johnstone (loan)

19

1 0

Dundee United Ross County

71

Falkirk

105

Hamilton Academical

75 20

Norwich City

INTERNATIONAL RECORD

1

SQUAD NO

Debut 30.05.2010 v Chile (H) Lost 0-1

Caps 24 Clean Sheets 13

Northern Ireland U19 Northern Ireland U21

3

10

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DID YOU KNOW?

Words Marshall Gillespie

Tonight’s clash with Germany marks Michael O’Neill’s 50th game in charge of Northern Ireland. Here Marshall Gillespie unearths some interesting facts and figures about his half century of fixtures at the helm…

The 54 goals Northern Ireland have scored during Michael O’Neill’s reign as manager have been spread among no fewer than 18 players. Top of the pile is, of course, Kyle Lafferty with an impressive 12 goals. The full list is: Kyle Lafferty 12 in 34 games Gareth McAuley 7 in 37 Steven Davis 6 in 46 Jamie Ward 4 in 29 Josh Magennis 3 in 28 Niall McGinn 3 in 35 Martin Paterson 3 in 10 Conor Washington 3 in 12 Chris Brunt 2 in 25 Craig Cathcart 2 in 24 Stuart Dallas 2 in 23 Liam Boyce 1 in 6 Jonny Evans 1 in 35 Shane Ferguson 1 in 32 Will Grigg 1 in 10 David Healy 1 in 4 Conor McLaughlin 1 in 27 Dean Shiels 1 in 5

Northern Ireland will be seeking to preserve an unbeaten competitive record at home which now stretches back a very impressive four years. Portugal were the last country to visit Belfast and take maximum points when they won a World Cup qualifying contest 4-2 on 6 September 2013 - thanks mainly to a stunning second half hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo. Since that defeat though Michael O’Neill’s charges have won seven and drawn two of their subsequent nine Euro and World Cup qualifying encounters at the National Football Stadium, scoring 20 goals while conceding just three.

Skipper Steven Davis has played in 46 of Michael O’Neill’s 49 games in charge, more than any other player. The three games he missed were the 6-0 friendly defeat to the Netherlands in June 2012; a 2-0 reverse in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania on 14 November 2014 and the 1-1 friendly draw with Qatar at Crewe on 31 May 2015.

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Michael O’Neill has used a total of 51 players in his 49 matches, 16 of whom have made 20 appearances or more. The five players with the most games during his tenure are: Steven Davis 46 (43 starts) Oliver Norwood 43 (40 starts) Gareth McAuley 37 (37 starts) Jonny Evans 35 (34 starts) Niall McGinn 35 (19 starts)

Northern Ireland will be playing their 33rd competitive international under Michael O’Neill this evening; only the

During his five years in the hotseat the manager has guided the team to a number of national records: • The victories over Hungary, Faroe Islands and Greece in qualification for Euro 2016 was the first time Northern Ireland had ever won their opening three fixtures in either a World or European qualifying campaign. • Prior to Euro 2016 he steered the team to a record-breaking 12-game unbeaten run between March 2015 and June 2016.

great Billy Bingham has taken charge of more, 89 over two spells as manager. The current incumbent has a 44% win ratio while Bingham’s was 35% during his two stints in the job.

• The 2-0 win over Czech Republic last month meant Northern Ireland had won six matches in a World Cup qualifying group for the first time in their history. • That success over the Czechs also meant the team had won five straight competitive internationals - a feat never before achieved by the national team. • Northern Ireland have scored a record 16 goals in their current World Cup campaign, surpassing their previous best of 14 in the qualifying series of 1992-1994.

If Northern Ireland do manage to stop the Germans from scoring at the National Stadium tonight it will be the 20th clean sheet that the side will have kept under O’Neill in his five years at the helm. His overall statistics with the side since taking over in February 2012 are hugely impressive as the table below shows: Clean P W D L F A Sheets % won % drew % lost Home: 21 12 5 4 34 20 11 57% 24% 19% Away: 23 5 8 10 17 28 7 22% 35% 43% Neutral: 5 1 1 3 3 4 1 20% 20% 60% Total: 49 18 14 17 54 52 19 37% 28% 35%

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According to the Bible, confession is good for the soul… WHEN IS THIS HOODOO GOING TO END?

Steven Davis and Mesut Ozil tussle in Paris last year.

starred in Spain for Celta Vigo but never broke into the international team where John McClelland, Chris Nicholl and John O’Neill held sway). And I am always prepared to express an opinion on our best ever XI; definitely in for me would be Cush, Donaghy and Whiteside. Or perhaps more controversially I could look at our worst XI. I also like to consider why the late 1970s all-Arsenal back three combo of Jennings, Rice and Nelson were eclipsed by the threesome that were first choice and took us to the 1982 World Cup finals - Jennings, Nicholl and Donaghy. I even organised my wedding around Northern Ireland matches (doesn’t everyone?) and before anyone complains Mrs Campbell was complicit in the planning!

With that in mind the time has come for this Northern Ireland fan to unburden himself of the guilt accumulated so many years ago in an effort to move onwards. Anyone who knows me will understand that I can be a bit of a Northern Ireland geek. I am happy to discourse on all subjects green and white and content to debate the relative merits of the international careers of Ronnie Blair (five caps in 1975 and 1976) and Bertie Lutton (six caps between 1970 and 1974). I am also open to discuss who was the best one cap wonder (probably David Stewart - one cap in a 3-0 demolition of Belgium in 1978 ) or who was the best Northern Ireland player never to make an international appearance (maybe Jim Hagan who

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My memory tells me it was a stompingly proper can’t-lift-my-head-off-the-pillow affair otherwise I would have been taking my rightful place with my mates at the match because, quite clearly, a little sniffle is not enough to keep a Northern Ireland fan out of action. Of course in those far off halcyon days before 24- hour rolling news, social media and mobile phones I had to keep abreast of the match via the good old wireless, and I have a vague recollection of the drone of the commentator, but for once sleep was more important than the wee team in green. So there we have it. I now feel cleansed and guilt free. I have yet to see Germany defeated by Northern Ireland. I have seen draws, heroic defeats, missed penalties and even an unscheduled Oliver Bierhoff 10-minute second half hat-trick. I have celebrated at the end of our match in Paris and celebrated even more wildly when other results confirmed we were through to the last 16 at Euro 2016, but never have I been able to celebrate a victory. So no pressure boys… but it’s about time I can forget the stigma of my influenza and enjoy the celebrations of a sweet victory! Words William Campbell

However, and this is the crux of the matter, there is one shocking and perhaps unexpected gap in my Northern Ireland Supporter CV. I have celebrated qualification to World Cups (x2), Euro Finals (x1), danced with delight with colleagues at our epic victories over England and Spain in 2005 and 2006. I’ve also bounced the ball with the referee on the driest part of the sodden pitch against Denmark, been admonished by the fourth official in the 3-2 victory over Spain (that’s another story), and shed tears of joy and pride on qualifications and participations in finals. But - and it’s a big but - I have never, ever, not even once, seen Northern Ireland defeat Germany! There, I have said it. I have not missed a home international since November 1982; more than 120 matches. I have seen good ones, bad ones, exciting ones and those which were rather more dull. Against big sides and small, world champions and those at the bottom of the world rankings, with big crowds and small. I’ve watched Northern Ireland play on every day of the week, and at all different kick-off times, in sun and rain (mostly rain), in heat and in cold. However, when Ian Stewart was drilling in the winner against reigning European champions West Germany on 17 November 1982 I was, sadly and to my eternal chagrin, unwell and in bed with the flu.

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O CTOBER /N OVEMBER 2017

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As German national coach he has never lost a World Cup qualifying game. In 28 qualifiers he has won 25 and drawn three - with a goal difference of 80; 97 for and 17 against. Low, who is known as Jogi, is aiming to take Germany to a fifth World Cup title to equal the record held by Brazil, adding to the trophy won under his stewardship in 2014 when Germany beat Argentina in the final in Rio de Janeiro. National coach since July 2006, Low has been in charge of Germany for 154 games, including friendlies. He has won 104, drawn 27 and lost 23. The former forward/attacking midfielder’s playing career lasted from 1978 to 1995 with SC Freiburg, with whom he had three spells, Eintracht Frankfurt and Karlsruhe in Germany and FC Schaffhausen, FC Winterthur and FC Frauenfeld in Switzerland. Low began his coaching career as player-coach with Frauenfeld in 1994-95 before moving to VfB Stuttgart (1996-98), with whom he won the German Cup in 1997 and finished as runners-up in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998. There followed spells with Fenerbahce (1998-99), Karlsruhe (1999-2000), Adanaspor (2000-01), Tirol Innsbruck (2001-02), with whom he won the Austrian League title, and Austria Vienna (2003- 04). When Jurgen Klinsmann became coach of the German national team in 2004 he appointed Low - he had first spotted him at a coaching course in Cologne four years earlier - as his assistant and Low was to play a major role in Germany achieving third place at the 2006 World Cup. When Klinsmann left after the 2006 tournament, Low was appointed in his place despite the fact he had never played for the senior international team. It hasn’t always been a smooth ride for the 57-year- old. Germany finished third in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, losing in the semi-final 1-0 to Joachim Low will be looking to preserve a remarkable record when his team face Northern Ireland this evening. GERMANY THE COACH

eventual winners Spain, and he was criticised in the media and by the public following Germany’s 2-1 defeat to Italy in the semi-finals of Euro 2012 - and that was after Germany had won 10 games out of 10 in the qualifiers for the tournament. His major triumph undoubtedly came in the 2014 World Cup when an unfancied German side upset the odds to defeat host nation Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final and went on to beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final. The Euro 2016 campaign was, in contrast, a disappointment for the coach and his squad. Following a less than convincing qualifying campaign, Germany’s dream of winning a World Cup and European Championship in successive campaigns was dashed when they were knocked out in the semi-finals by France (2-0). Things have certainly been different since then as the German squad look to fulfil the coach’s stated ambition of seeing Germany win the World Cup five times. A 100% record in the qualifiers to date, with a goal difference of 33 - 35 for and two against, certainly bodes well. Germany only need a draw from their last two matches - this evening against Northern Ireland or on Sunday at home to Azerbaijan - to secure first place in the group and automatic qualification to Russia 2018. Alongside that Germany have shown their huge depth of up and coming talent with Low’s largely young team winning the Confederations Cup in Russia back in the summer without losing a game. They defeated Chile 2-1 in the final in St Petersburg. Low has certainly earned the right to be named alongside the great German coaches such as Franz Beckenbauer, Helmut Schon and Sepp Herberger who all, like him, were World Cup winners. Words Roy Kitson

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GERMANY PLAYERS TOWATCH

Words Roy Kitson

A FIRST CLASS KEEPER Ter Stegen has taken the place of national team captain Manuel Neuer between the posts in Germany’s last three WC 2018 qualifiers following the metatarsal injury suffered by Neuer when playing for Bayern Munich back in April. And following the news of a recurrence of Neuer’s injury three weeks ago, it looks as if he will be in action again this evening. The last few months have certainly been busy for him. He was a member of Germany’s Confederations Cup-winning squad in Russia, playing in four of their five games. And he kept a clean sheet in the final against Chile, which Germany won 1-0. Ter Stegen is now firmly established as first choice goalkeeper with Barcelona after the transfer of Claudio Bravo to Manchester City last year. He was transferred to the Spanish giants from Borussia Monchengladbach - his only other club - in the summer of 2014 for £10m. Won the Champions League in 2015 and the Copa Del Rey in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Made his full international debut in May 2012 in a 5-3 friendly defeat against Switzerland in Basel. STYLISH DEFENDER The 6ft 4ins centre back is a mainstay of Die Mannschaft (The Team). Has been with Bayern Munich since leaving Manchester City in 2011. With Bayern he has won four Bundesliga titles, and the Champions League in 2013. Played in the 2010 and 2014 World Cup finals. Started the WC 2014 tournament in Brazil at right back, moving inside for the knockout stages. Played a crucial role in the victory over Argentina in the final, making a clearance off the line and making a superb tackle on Lionel Messi. Played in all six matches in Euro 2016 in France. He was one of three German players in the team of the tournament; the others were Joshua Kimmich and Toni Kroos. Played against Northern Ireland in the WC qualifier in Hannover last October and also at Euro 2016 in Paris. Boateng has suffered from shoulder injuries in the past 12 months and has only recently recovered from a thigh injury. Made his senior international debut in October 2009 against Russia in Moscow. Germany won the game 1-0. MAINSTAY AT THE BACK The defensive mainstay of the Germany team, the 6ft 3ins central defender began his career with Bayern Munich youth teams and then reserves before moving to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January 2008 and then signing for them permanently in a £3.75m deal.With Dortmund he won the Bundesliga in 2011 and 2012 and the German Cup in 2012, as well as losing in the Champions League final in 2013 to Bayern Munich at Wembley (2-1). After nine seasons with Dortmund he rejoined Bayern Munich last summer. He penned a five-year contract with Bayern just two days after they had beaten Dortmund in the German Cup final. With Bayern he won the Bundesliga last season. Played against Northern Ireland twice last year - at Euro 2016 and in the WC qualifier in October. Has played in seven WC 2018 qualifiers to date – and scored the winner away to Czech Republic last month. Was a member of the 2014 World Cup winning team in Brazil, scoring two goals in six games. He made his international debut in May 2010 away to Malta (3-0 victory).

MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN GOALKEEPER Age Caps Goals Club 25 16 0 Barcelona

JEROME BOATENG DEFENDER

Age Caps Goals Club 27 67 1 Bayern Munich

MATS HUMMELS DEFENDER

Age Caps Goals Club 28 59 5 Bayern Munich

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PLAYMAKER SUPREME Technically excellent, Kroos is playmaker supreme, never losing his cool. Dictates the pace of the game from the centre of midfield for both club and country. And he also happens to be Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis’s favourite player (and most difficult opponent)! Joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich for £23m in 2014 after winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup three times, the Champions League in 2013 and the World Cup in 2014. He was in Bayern’s first team squad at the age of 17. With Real Madrid he has won La Liga (2017) and the Champions League in 2016 and 2017. Has played in six WC 2018 qualifiers, including the 2-0 win against Northern Ireland last October. Has scored once - against the Czech Republic at home last October. Operates the crucial role in the centre of midfield in front of the back four. Played in four WC 2010 finals matches and in seven WC 2014 finals matches, scoring two goals in the semi-final 7-1 defeat of host country Brazil. Made his international debut in Munich in March 2010 against Argentina, a game the Germans lost 1-0. CREATIVE FORCE Although he usually operates wide on the left, the creative midfielder can also play on the right or just behind the striker. He played on the left side of the midfield three behind Mario Gotze in last year’s WC qualifier between Germany and Northern Ireland (2-0) - and scored. Played in one game in the WC 2014 Finals, coming off the bench in the 7-1 semi- final victory over Brazil. In 2014 and 2018 World Cup qualifiers he has played in 12 matches, all of which Germany have won, scoring three goals. Started his career with Schalke. Went on to play 119 Bundesliga games (18 goals) for them and won the German Cup in 2011. Moved to Wolfsburg in August 2015, and from there to Paris Saint-Germain in January 2017. Has only played 19 league games (four goals) in France to date but has been hampered by injuries. Captained Germany’s winning team in this year’s Confederations Cup, playing all five games and scoring one goal against Australia. He was named player of the tournament. Played in five of Germany’s six matches in Euro 2016, although he was on the bench for the game against Northern Ireland. Scored in the 3-0 Round of 16 win against Slovakia. SUPER STRIKER A maker as well as a taker of goals, Muller is a superstar for Germany whether playing as an attacking midfielder or up front. Muller was a key member of the 2014 World Cup-winning team. Scored the opener in the 7-1 semi-final defeat of hosts Brazil - Germany's 2000th goal in its history. In the previous World Cup, in 2010 in South Africa, he was awarded the Golden Boot as top scorer with five goals and was also voted best young player. In Brazil in 2014 he also scored five times. Played in all of Germany’s Euro 2016 qualifiers, scoring nine goals, and in all six matches in the finals, although he did not score. To date he has played in seven WC 2018 qualifiers, scoring seven goals. He won the league title with Bayern Munich for the fifth time in five years last season. In total he has scored 97 goals in 262 Bundesliga games since making his debut for Bayern in 2008-09. Muller, a product of Bayern’s youth system, has also won the German Cup four times and the Champions League (2013). Made his full international debut in February 2009 against Norway. Played in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and 2012 and 2016 Euro tournaments. Has scored 32 goals for Arsenal in 165 league games.

TONI KROOS MIDFIELDER

Age Caps Goals Club 27 78 12 Real Madrid

JULIAN DRAXLER MIDFIELDER

Age Caps Goals Club 24 37 6 Paris Saint-Germain

THOMAS MULLER FORWARD

Age Caps Goals Club 28 87 37 Bayern Munich

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GERMANY

FACTFILE

Words Nigel Tilson and Roy Kitson

Germany are one of the powerhouses of world football - and the statistics bear that out.

With a 100% record to date in Qualifying Group C for FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, Germany are looking to better the record they set in the qualifiers for the 1982 finals in Spain. The then West Germany won all eight matches in qualification - against Austria, Bulgaria, Albania and Finland, scoring 33 goals and conceding three (the only team to win all their matches in a 10-game European qualifying group were Spain who then went on to win the 2010 World Cup Final). Germany’s top flight, the Bundesliga, is among the top leagues in Europe - and it’s the league with the highest average stadium attendance in the world. The league has been dominated by Bayern Munich over the past decade. They have won the title seven times in that period, with five of them coming in the past five years. And Bayern also hold the record of most title wins with 26. Heroes of Hamburg Northern Ireland’s greatest victory over a German team to date came in Hamburg in 1983. On 18 November that year a Northern Ireland team managed by Billy Bingham defeated the then West Germany, who were reigning European champions and runners-up at the 1982 World Cup, by a goal to nil in their own backyard. The goal was scored in the 50th minute of the game by 18-year-old Manchester United midfielder/ striker Norman Whiteside. Legendary Northern Ireland manager Bingham, who played for his country at the 1958 World Cup and managed Northern Ireland at the 1982 and 1986 World Cup tournaments, later said: “In my view the victory in Hamburg was our greatest achievement.

Currently ranked number one in the world, they have been one of the most consistent performers on the world stage for more than 50 years. As West Germany or Germany they have won the World Cup four times - 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014. And down the years they have produced some of the finest players on the planet, from midfield maestros Lothar Matthaus (Ballon d’Or winner in 1990), Matthias Sammer (Ballon d’Or 1996), Thomas Hassler, Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger to goal machines Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Ballon d’Or 1980 and 1981), Gerd Muller (Ballon d’Or 1970), Oliver Bierhoff and Jurgen Klinsmann. And let’s not forget about top class defenders such as classy sweeper Franz Beckenbauer (Ballon d’Or 1972 and 1976), Jurgen Kohler, Berti Vogts and Andreas Brehme, not to mention legendary keepers Sepp Maier and Oliver Kahn. In more recent times their line-ups are like a Who’s Who? of world class players, from supremely talented goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to classy defensive players Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng, midfield artisans Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil to goal getters Thomas Muller and Miroslav Klose, who scored an incredible 71 goals at international level. Apart from winning World Cups, the Germans have also been runners-up on four occasions - in 1966, 1982, 1986 and 2002. And they have won the European Championship three times, in 1972, 1980 and 1996. They have also been runners-up at the Euros three times, in 1976, 1992 and 2008. In addition they have won the Confederations Cup once, their success coming back in the summer of this year in Russia.

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HEAD TO HEAD

Germany/West Germany have played Northern Ireland 16 times - in 11 competitive games and five friendlies. Northern Ireland have won two, drawn four and lost 10. The Germans have scored 35 goals against Northern Ireland, with the boys in green putting 13 past them down the years.

The games were: World Cup Finals West Germany 2-2 Northern Ireland 15.05.58 Sweden (Malmo) World Cup Qualifiers Germany 2-0 Northern Ireland 11.10.16 Hannover Northern Ireland 1- 3 Germany 20.08.97 Belfast Germany 1-1 Northern Ireland 0 9.11.96 Nuremberg  West Germany 2-1 Northern Ireland 10.05.61 Berlin Northern Ireland 3-4 West Germany 26.10.60 Belfast European Championship Finals Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany 21.06.16 France (Paris) Euros Qualifiers Germany 4-0 Northern Ireland 08.09.99 Dortmund Northern Ireland 0-3 Germany 27.03.99 Belfast West Germany 0-1 Northern Ireland 16.11.83 Hamburg Northern Ireland 1-0 West Germany 17.11.82 Belfast Friendlies Northern Ireland 1-4 Germany 04.06.05 Belfast Northern Ireland 1-1 Germany 29.05.96 Belfast Germany 1-1 Northern Ireland 02.06.92 Bremen West Germany 5-0 Northern Ireland 27.04.77 Cologne Northern Ireland 0-2 West Germany 07.05.66 Belfast

“It rates just above our victory in Spain (at the 1982 World Cup) when we qualified with 10 men for the second round, also with a 1-0 win. “I admit that the match against Spain was perhaps a more important game - we had a chance to progress in the World Cup. But Germany in 1983 was, in my opinion, a better team with better players. To be honest we were under much greater pressure, psychologically as well as physically, against Germany than against Spain.” Norman Whiteside said later: “Nobody who played in Hamburg will ever forget that evening when we defeated the German national team on their own patch.” And fellow striker Billy Hamilton said: “I think it was the only game I played in which I spent more time in our penalty area than in the opponents’ area. “I remember the game in Hamburg well, and also the one in Belfast the previous year. After our hard fought victory in Windsor Park the Germans were out for revenge, and I think that both teams were determined to win. It was a hard fought but fair game, in which every player gave 100%.” Before that historic night West Germany had never previously lost a World Cup or European Championship qualifier at home. And Northern Ireland remain the only team to have beaten the Germans home and away in either a World Cup or Euros qualifying campaign.

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