Northern Ireland go head-to-head with the Netherlands in a huge UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier on Saturday night.
The atmosphere at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park is expected to be electric as the Green and White Army welcome Van Dijk and co. to Belfast.
We’ve taken a look at some of the key stats and scenarios for our senior men’s team ahead of what should be a cracker of a game!
- If Steven Davis wins his 116th cap he will become the most-capped international midfielder in the UK, the third most-capped player in the UK and the second most-capped outfield player in the UK.
- Despite being the oldest outfield player in the squad at 34, Davis has still played more club minutes (1,760) than any other outfield player in the Northern Ireland panel for this game.
- Three of Davis’ last four goals for Northern Ireland have been from the penalty spot.
- Saturday will be Davis’ 40th match in the European Championship. His record to date is: Played 39, Won 19, Drawn 7, Lost 13, Goals 5, Assists 5.
- Northern Ireland have only ever failed to score in six of their 31 matches at home during Michael O’Neill’s reign.
- If Matthew Kennedy makes his debut against the Netherlands he will become the 66th player used by Michael O’Neill since he took over in 2012.
- Seven of Northern Ireland’s last 18 goals have been scored by substitutes.
- Northern Ireland have not conceded a first-half goal in any of their last six matches at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
- If Niall McGinn plays against the Dutch he will become only the 20th player to win 60 or more caps for Northern Ireland.
- Northern Ireland have now gone 20 matches at home without a draw – Won 14; lost 6; for: 34; against: 16; clean sheets: 11. Our last draw was against Hungary in September 2015.
- Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Craig Cathcart, Jonny Evans, Steven Davis and Paddy McNair have all played every minute of Northern Ireland’s six UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers to date.
- Josh Magennis has averaged a goal every 52 minutes of this UEFA EURO 2020 campaign for Northern Ireland.
- Only three of Josh Magennis’ last 10 appearances for Northern Ireland have been from the start.
- Paddy McNair has played the full 90 minutes in each of his last seven games for Northern Ireland.
- Northern Ireland have never lost any of the 17 internationals that Kyle Lafferty has scored in - 13 wins and four draws.
- Northern Ireland have only failed to score in one of their last nine internationals.
