Bosnia and Herzegovina - Northern Ireland

PENALTIES - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 1-0 NORTHERN IRELAND

Pjanic up first. My man of the match. SCORES!

Big discussions happening on the pitch. Who takes?

PENALTIES NEEDED

Northern Ireland have NEVER been involved in a penalty shootout before.

Kolasinac makes way for Hajradinovic.

Pen taker?

Dzeko almost finds Visca but Jonny Evans slides in brilliantly to intercept. A great performance by the centre-back.

Whyte clears as Kolasinac charges in. Northern Ireland look happy enough to soak up this pressure but they've come a little unstuck here.

The momentum is swinging this way and that.

FIVE TO GO

The fans have quietened down too. Everyone is tired.

But Bosnia launch an attack and they are practically queuing up to have a go, but the visitors keep their shape and shepherd their hosts wide.

Northern Ireland are on top here but do they have enough in the tank to score?

Gojak is struggling for Bosnia who have cramp all over the place. Pjanic's influence has faded too.

BEEEEP

One last time, here we go.

Remember when Bosnia scored?

Feels like a lifetime ago.

HT IN EXTRA TIME

Thompson's chance the best of the half but both sides lacking in energy as we head ever closer toward a penalty shootout.

The tempo of the game has dropped dramatically in extra-time.

Fair enough, they must be tired. This one has penalties written all over it.

It's like watching a tennis match, there is no midfield in this match.

What a game this is though. In the first 15 you'd have put your mortgage on Bosnia winning this easily. But luckily I've almost no chance of ever having a mortgage, so my money is safe.

We go on!

Up the other end Peacock-Farrell makes a smart save from Visca at his near post.

So. Many. Chances.

SAVE!

Bosnia just back off and off and Thompson - who carried the ball about 40 yards - rifles at Sehic who makes a brilliant save.

Slovakia vs the Republic of Ireland is also into extra-time...

HERE WE GO AGAIN

TIRED?

30 minutes left. Then pens if neither can find a winner.

FT

WE GO TO EXTRA TIME

Dzeko has had little to do in this game and fouls Cathcart here as he tries to muscle his way through.

TWO ADDITIONAL MINUTES

Krunic is off for Bosnia, Hotic the left-footed winger comes on.

It's Bosnia pushing for the winner in the dying stages. McNair is down with cramp and it's all just a little uncomfortable right now.

Corner to Northern Ireland.

McNair steps up...

Gojak clears...

Waste.

Both managers with attacking substitutions, both think this game is here to be won.

Seven minutes away from extra time.

Haziahmetovic makes way for Gojak.

I won't miss him.

Goalscorer McGinn comes off for Jones

SO CLOSE!

Sehic slips and Northern Ireland must surely score! Whyte hits it wide and he was offside anyway to spare his blushes.

CLOSE!

McNair absolutely belts it from 25 yards but the ball hits his own man George Saville!

The ball belongs to Bosnia but they're struggling to create any clear-cut chances. And Northern Ireland look swift and dangerous on the counter-attack with the more natural winger Whyte now on the field.

This one is hanging delicately in the balance.

Still goalless in Bratislava between Ireland and Slovakia!

Two shootouts on the way?

Corrie Evans makes way for Gavin Whyte. Evans has put in a great shift tonight.

How have Bosnia not scored?

Northern Ireland are riding their luck as Visca's square ball pings around before heading out for a corner.

Someone just tap it in!

Far too easy for Bosnia and Dzeko should score as the Northern Ireland backline lose all communication. Cathcart and the 'keeper were not on the same wavelength.

Another chance for Bosnia as Krunic fins the grateful hands of Peacock-Farrell.

Just over 20 minutes of regular time to go...

Northern Ireland are struggling to get out now as Bosnia turn the screw. It's electric again from Pjanic but unfortunately the rest of his team are not quite on his level.

SAVE!

Peacock-Farrell makes a diving save to keep out Hadziahmetovic. First and hopefully last time I have to write that name.

Both sides are committing men forward and going for this, and it's making for a very open game.

BAR!

Pjanic smacks the bar from a free-kick! Northern Ireland survive!

It is absolute carnage out there!

At one end, Peacock-Farrell pulls off a brilliant save. At the other, Saville forces a fine save too!

CLOSE!

McNair so nearly puts the visitors ahead but Kolasinac does just about enough to stop a clear header.

Chaos!

Northern Ireland thoroughly deserve their leveller.

Cipetic goes for goal the other end and draws the ire of his team mates who were in plenty of space.

CLOSE!

McGinn fires a blinding pass across the six-yard box but where are the Northern Irish to tap it in?!

They need to make this pressure count.

BACK UNDERWAY

Okay Northern Ireland, what have you got?

HT

Bosnia are a goal to the good but Northern Ireland have grown into this game and have had a few great chances since going behind.

This could still go either way, but as long as the outstanding Pjanic is on the pitch, Bosnia have the edge.

CLOSE!

Northern Ireland could and maybe should be level as Saville rushes in on the volley but blasts over via a deflection.

It's an ice rink out there as the Northern Ireland backline almost gift Dzeko a way through.

Their may be some boot swapping at half-time.

They can't.

Saville has a free header but accidentally knocks the ball off the back of a jumping McGinn...

Can they fight their way out of this corner because as things stand, the EURO 2020 dream is over.

Pjanic is absolutely everywhere tonight. He's been the best player on the pitch by a country mile.

Northern Ireland head up the other end now and Dallas wins a free-kick.

Can they make one of these count?

Free-kick to Northern Ireland and a great chance to get level before half-time.

Cathcart is up.

Again, McNair whips in and Corris Evans' header picks out Magennis before Kolasinac makes a crucial block.

SHOT!

Pjanic finds Dzeko who picks out Krunic, the midfielder almost grabbing his second but fires his shot down the throat of Peacock-Farrell.

Elsewhere, Ireland are still level at 0-0 with Slovakia.

The dream play-off final is not looking so likely right now but there's plenty of time left.

CHANCE!

Bosnia should probably be two up as Pjanic plays a lovely dink to Dzeko up top. The former Manchester City man's first touch is poor though and it makes a mess of the attack.

That was delightful football.

Another corner for Bosnia, This time Dallas clears

Northern Ireland play a set-piece straight off the training ground but McGinn's cross hits the first man.

Still, the visitors are putting Sehic to work now and it's much better. They've been the better side since going behind.

CLOSE!

Pjanic drills just wide from 30 yards. That's maybe one yard wide and Peacock-Fareell was left completely flat-footed.

Much more of a game this now, but Pjanic is a constant pain for the Northern Irish.

How great are these Bosnian fans by the way? Genuinely sounds like thunder in the stadium. Quite scary.

That's more like it!

But how did Sehic keep that out?

GREAT SAVE!

What a response that would have been!

Corrie Evans picks out Magennis and it's a simply brilliant save from Sehic.

That's not the plan.

Northern Ireland win a free-kick in a dangerous position, but McNair misreads the offside trap completely and puts it straight out for a goal-kick.

Have to do better than that.

Yet another set-piece for Bosnia.

Pjanic again, out by Evans again. Northern Ireland have barely had a moment's rest and Bosnia look electric.

Pinball chaos in the box but Jonny Evans is the man on the spot to calm things down and clear.

Great defending. He reads the game so well.

All Bosnia right now with Pjanic the man in the middle making everything happen.

Another corner as Lewis slips on the wet surface. White shirts falling about all over the place.

Pjanic goes deep and Evans clears.

A moment or two for Ireland on the ball now but they're being pressed and harried by Blue shirts at every avenue.

Bosnia press and win themselves a free-kick as the Northern Irish defence are put under pressure.

Magennis is alert to put the ball behind but Pjanic is putting in some great balls early doors.

Northern Ireland kick us off with an absolute hoof up the pitch to nobody.

It's genuinely great to see a vibe inside the stadium with all the noise cheering on Bosnia.

Kolasinac charges forward early and Bosnia are knocking it about look for a way through. Pjanic whips in a free-kick but it's out for a goal-kick.

HERE WE GO

FANS!

Hold the phone, there are actually fans in the ground.

Not many, but fans all the same.

Well, I never.

FIVE MINUTE WARNING

EURO 2016

Of course, Northern Ireland were there in France in 2016, and they put on a decent show too, qualifying for the knockout stages before Wales sent them packing in the Round of 16.

LAST TIME OUT

The last time Northern Ireland were in the play-offs with a spot at a major tournament on the line, was in 2018 when they lost 1-0 to Switzerland.

They really need to pull it out of the bag tonight.

"There's a definite focus on making sure we are in the final come next month to give ourselves a change to get to the Euros," Norther Ireland manager Ian Baraclough told Sky Sports.

"Players want to be there. Players want to experience the feeling of being at a competition that is renowned worldwide."

FIGHTING TALK

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

So, if Northern Ireland win tonight they will head into a the European Championship play-off final for a sport at Euro 2020 (in 2021).

In the play-off final they will face either Slovakia or Ireland...that's right, we could be in for an all-Ireland play-off final. Carnage.

But, to get there they have to do something they've never done before...beat Bosnia and Herzegovina.

120

An absolutely colossal occasion for Northern Ireland skipper Steven Davis, who makes his 120th international appearance this evening.

He becomes the most-capped player in Northern Ireland's history.

EVANS IN

Jonny Evans starts for Northern Ireland after taking a knock against West Ham on the weekend. Jamal Lewis also starts at the back, with Corrie Evans in midfield.

Josh Magennis and Niall McGinn lead from the front.

FAMILIAR FACES

Remember Dzeko? He starts up top for Bosnia tonight along Pjanic who also pops up in the Champions League every now and then.

Stoke legend Asmir Begovic is also on the bench.

And remember Sead Kolasinac? Used to get assists for Arsenal? He plays.

NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Peacock-Farrell, McNair, J Evans, Cathcart, Lewis, C Evans, Dallas, Davis, Saville, McGinn, Magennis.

Subs: McGovern, Carson, McLaughlin, Flanagan, Boyce, Lafferty, Ferguson, Thompson, Washington, Whyte, Jones, Ballard.

BOSNIA TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Sehic, Cipetic, Ahmedhodzic, Sanicanin, Kolasinac, Cimirot, Hadziahmetovic, Pjanic, Visca, Dzeko, Krunic.

Subs: Begovic, Piric, Nastic, Todorovic, Hotic, Hodzic, Gojak, Hadzikadunic, Djuric, Hajradinovic, Loncar, Milosevic.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA VS NORTHERN IRELAND

Good evening and a very warm welcome to our live-text coverage of Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Northern Ireland at the Grbavica Stadium.

For those of you confused between the various friendlies, Nations League and other things going on. This one is a European Championship Qualifying Path B Play-off match!

Remember?

Yes, it's confusing, but the bottom line is both these sides are two wins away from EURO 2020 (2021).

Okay?

So, stay with us for all the build-up, hype and highlights ahead of kick-off at 7.45pm.