Northern Ireland v Netherlands

The first Northern Ireland player ever to be sent off in a full international was Manchester United’s Jimmy Nicholson, who was red- carded after 70 minutes of a World Cup qualifying victory over Greece at Windsor Park on 17 October 1961. The last player to receive his marching orders was Chris Baird who picked up two yellow cards in quick succession in the European Championship qualifying draw with Hungary in Belfast on 7 September 2015.

Seven is the magic number forJosh Magennis. His goal in Rotterdam last month was his seventh in a green shirt and also the seventh time he has scored in the second half in a full international. All of his seven goals have been in competitive games and all have been assisted by different players (Ollie Norwood, Conor Washington, Steven Davis, Gareth McAuley, Paddy McNair, Jordan Jones and Stuart Dallas)!

When Leeds United midfielder Alfie McCalmont was introduced as a substitute in the 60th minute of the international friendly with Luxembourg back in September he became the first player born in the 2000s to win a senior cap. Two minutes from the end of that game at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park 18-year-old Manchester United midfielder Ethan Galbraith became the second when he also came on as a substitute to make his full international debut.

Exactly 36 years ago today Northern Ireland undoubtedly recorded one of their greatest ever qualifying results away from home when they defeated Germany 1-0 in Hamburg thanks to a second half goal from 18-year-old Norman Whiteside. The full list of Northern Ireland’s results for 16 November are: 1938 v England (a) (BIC) lost 7-0 1949 v England (a) (WCQ) lost 9-2 1966 v Scotland (a) (ECQ) lost 2-1 1977 v Belgium (h) (FR) won 3-0 1983 v Germany (a) (ECQ) won 1-0 1994 v ROI (h) (ECQ) lost 4-0

The goalkeeper who holds the record for going the longest without conceding a goal in a full international is, of course, Pat Jennings who went a record 633 minutes without his goal being breached. The run started against England on 27 February 1985 and ended against Denmark on 26 March 1986. The closest any other goalkeeper has ever come to emulating that feat is current squad member Michael McGovern who kept his goal intact for 607 minutes between 11 October 2016 and 5 October 2017.

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