Northern Ireland vs Switzerland (21/03/2025)

If Paddy McNair plays against either Switzerland or Sweden he will become only the fifth player to win a full international cap for Northern Ireland while attached to a club in the USA. Former Everton midfielder Dave Clements became the first when he made his final two appearances for his country when he was with New York Cosmos back in 1976. Glentoran legend Billy Caskey was at Tulsa Roughnecks when he played the last of seven matches for Northern Ireland in a 4-0 defeat to France in 1982. Midfielder Dave McCreery was also at Tulsa, winning 12 of his 55 caps while turning out for the NASL side. And Larne-born Johnny Steele made all three of his appearances for his country between 2013 and 2014 while playing for New York Red Bulls.

The game this evening will be the ninth meeting at full international level between Northern Ireland and Switzerland and our fifth against them in Belfast. The first ever meeting between the nations came in a Word Cup qualifier in October 1964 when a second half Jonny Crossan penalty gave Northern Ireland a 1-0 win in front of 28,598 spectators. Our only other success against the Swiss was in a friendly in April 1998 when Darren Patterson scored the only goal of the game in what was then manager Lawrie McMenemy’s second game in charge. Northern Ireland’s full record against Switzerland is: P W D L F A 8 2 3 3 3 5

When Josh Magennis scored in the 5-0 Nations League demolition of Bulgaria last October it was his fifth full international goal as a substitute. At 34 years and 62 days he also became the second oldest substitute to score for Northern Ireland, the oldest being Steven Davis, who was aged 37 years and 83 days when he found the net in a 3-1 victory over Luxembourg in March 2022.

The youngest ever substitute to score a goal for Northern Ireland was Kyle Lafferty who was just 18 years and 334 days when he found the net in a 2-1 friendly win over Finland in Helsinki in August 2006. He is also the only player to score twice for Northern Ireland after coming off the bench when he hit a brace against San Marino

If ADO Den Haag striker Lee Bonis scores this evening he will become only the second player to find the net in a full international for Northern Ireland while playing their football in the Netherlands. The other was James Quinn who was on the books of Willem II when he scored in a 1-1 draw against Serbia and Montenegro in Belfast in March 2004.

in a World Cup qualifier in Belfast in October 2016.

IRISHFA.COM

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