Northern Ireland secure play-off place
:focal(140x151:142x149)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2020/04/28/2811917-58003384-310-310.png)
Updated 08/10/2017 at 18:30 GMT
Northern Ireland secured a play-off position in the World Cup qualifiers before their game against Norway thanks to Slovakia beating Scotland into second place in Group F.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill celebrates with Steve Davis after the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Northern Ireland and Czech Republic at Windsor Park on September 4, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Image credit: Getty Images
Scotland's 2-2 draw in Slovenia allowed Slovakia to leap-frog them into second-place but they cannot catch Northern Ireland, regardless of Michael O'Neill's side's result against Norway.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/10/08/2182907-45615510-2560-1440.jpg)
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Northern Ireland and Germany at Windsor Park on October 5, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Image credit: Getty Images
With the play-off system excluding the results against the bottom-placed team in each group Slovakia are on 12 points, with Greece above them on 13.
Northern Ireland are also on 13 and had they suffered a big loss to Norway could have slipped behind Greece but even if that now happens they will be ahead of Slovakia.
The runners-up of Group B (Portugal or Switzerland), Italy, the runners-up of Group A (France, Sweden or the Netherlands) and Denmark are all also confirmed.
Northern Ireland team to face Norway: McGovern, McLaughlin, J. Evans, McAuley, Brunt, C.Evans, Dallas, Norwood, Davis, Magennis, Washington
Norway team to face Northern Ireland: Nyland, Meling, Reginiussen, Nordtveit, Svensson, Johansen, Henriksen, Berge, Elyounoussi, Sorloth, Soderlund
Scan me
Share this article