Northern Ireland v Slovakia

GOOD EVENING

Welcome to Belfast for this evening’s match. Sport in general, and football in particular, are no strangers to the concept of a crunch match or a winner takes all showdown, and whatever other descriptions are given to tonight’s game against Slovakia.

It’s certainly going to be a huge evening for all of us, players and supporters alike. As tonight unfolds we will learn whether we are to be members of the cast at next year’s fabulous production UEFA EURO 2020 or just members of the audience. Will we take on Sweden and Poland in Dublin, and then Spain in Bilbao, or will we be looking on as disappointed bystanders? There is no doubt in our minds as to our destiny. Ian Baraclough, Steven Davis and the entire squad of coaches and players have only one aim in mind as they take on our opponents on the famous south Belfast turf. Although Slovakia will be given the full respect they deserve as a play-off finalist, and proud country in their own right, we know that there is only one result we are looking for tonight, and that is to win and ensure our progression to our second consecutive UEFA European Championship finals. Last time round in France in 2016 we lit up the tournament with our players and our supporters, and we want more of the same now. Speaking of supporters, we are naturally disappointed that we can’t have the normal 18,000-spectator full throated support in the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park tonight because we know we have

to do everything possible to prevent the further community transmission of the Covid-19 virus. With the valued co-operation of Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities, however, we have agreed a capacity of just over 1000 for this vital match, almost double the number who were able to attend the Austria game last month. On that night 600 supporters certainly made themselves heard, and we know that almost double that number tonight will do everything they can to create a special atmosphere and roar our team on to victory. It is no cliché that supporters can be the vital 12th man in a team and your energy will certainly transmit its way to the players who will thrive on it. So it comes down to this: 603 days after starting our UEFA EURO 2020 campaign with a home win against Estonia we have the chance to finish the task tonight with a win against Slovakia. It’s time for another chapter to be written in our illustrious history.

Enjoy the match! Patrick Nelson Chief Executive Irish Football Association

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