Summary
They might have had sore heads going into this game after Thursday’s efforts, but that was a thoroughly professional performance from Northern Ireland – Norwood, Davis, Baird and Dallas shone in particular and Arajuuri’s excellent late goal was the only time Finland troubled Michael McGovern’s goal.
They finish top of Group F, one point ahead of Romania, who secured a 3-0 win in Faroe Islands to pip Hungary to automatic qualification.
In Group I, Portugal beat Serbia 2-1, but the big movers were Albania, who beat Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s Armenia to move into second spot. Great achievement for a country with just 2.8m people.
The story of the night: Greece won a football match! The Euro 2004 winners still finish bottom of Group F though, below the Faroe Islands. That’s what happens when you start a campaign with Claudio Ranieri as manager … there’s still time Leicester City fans, there’s still time.
Thanks for reading, and for your emails and tweets. Congratulations to Northern Ireland, Romania, Albania … and Greece.
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Full-time scores in full
Group F
Finland 1-1 Northern Ireland
Faroe Islands 0-3 Romania
Greece 4-3 Hungary
Northern Ireland top the group, Romania are second ahead of Hungary, who will go into the play-offs.
Group I
Serbia 1-2 Portugal
Armenia 0-3 Albania
Portugal already confirmed as group winners, Albania leapfrog Denmark into second place with Denmark slipping into the play-offs.
Full-time: Finland 1-1 Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland finish top of the pile in Group F!
We top Group F!! Thank you Green & White Army…. Welcome to Le-Rendez-vous #DareToDream #GAWA pic.twitter.com/64op0swaXj
— Official Irish FA (@OfficialIrishFA) October 11, 2015
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90 min: Three minutes added on for injury time here. Remember Northern Ireland just need a point to qualify as group winners. If Finland score again, NI will slip to second.
GOAL! Finland 1-1 Northern Ireland (Arajuuri 88)
Finland have equalised! It’s a great goal to be fair: Hamalainen peeling off at the back post and cushioning a lovely knock down to the centre-back Arajuuri, who was thrown forward in the dying moments here in Helsinki. It’s a fabulous first touch from the defender, who lashes his shot past McGovern from around the penalty spot. Helsinki erupts, they’re pleased with that.
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GOAL! Greece 4-3 Hungary (Kone)
What a remarkable game. It’s as though Hungary knew that Romania had scored in the Faroe Islands, because they’ve collapsed from 3-2 up to 4-3 down: Panagiotis Kone rising highest and planting a bullet header past Kiraly! Greece on course for their first win.
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GOAL! Faroe Islands 0-3 Romania (Maxim)
And that’s that then. Romania go 3-0 up to seal their automatic qualification. Scenes! It doesn’t matter what happens in Greece v Hungary now.
81 min: Lafferty comes off for Josh Magennism, with Northern Ireland’s No9 given a standing ovation for his efforts, more over the qualifying campaign that for tonight, where he has been largely nullified.
GOAL! Greece 3-3 Hungary (Mitroglou)
Greece again hit back immediately. What a game!
And we're back, Mitroglou equalizes 3-3 pic.twitter.com/EUyMMxFX4s
— Michael Kantaris (@grkmikey95) October 11, 2015
GOAL! Greece 2-3 Hungary (Nemeth)
Nemeth has done it again! Hungary lead! But remember they are still relying on Faroe Islands doing them a favour against Romania. It’s still 2-0 to the Romanians there.
Nemeth, by the way, is excelling for Sporting Kansas City in the States after unspectacular spells with Blackburn, Olympiakos, Roda among others. He did this earlier this month …
From midfield. A zig. A zag. Another zig. Oh... wow, @KNemeth_Nemo. #PORvSKC http://t.co/cqYEy4UBPP
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 4, 2015
74 min: They ain’t lying. Northern Ireland fans are absolutely belting. I’m surprised they have any voice left at all.
Both teams enjoying spells of possession but you can only hear one set of fans #FINvNIR
— Official Irish FA (@OfficialIrishFA) October 11, 2015
70 min: Northern Ireland makes a change: Shane Ferguson is on for Niall McGinn. That means there is a slight re-shuffle: Ferguson on at left back, Brunt moves forward to left wing, Stuart Dallas comes over the right to where McGinn was. Baird is still on, by the way, he recovered from that Mattila challenge.
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68 min: Norwood has been outstanding for Northern Ireland tonight. Nothing too spectacular but alongside Davis, he has set the tempo, been tidy in possession, and done the ugly stuff well as well in the middle of the pitch.
65 min: Finland make a change up front, Sadik coming off for Teemu Pukki, formerly of Celtic.
Incidentally, if you were wondering if former Crystal Palace goalkeeper and current Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly is still rocking those tracksuit bottoms at the age of 39 … he is.
GOAL! Greece 2-2 Hungary (Tachtsidis)
Greece are back on level terms and with that goes Hungary’s slim hopes of automatic qualification. Some slick one-touch interplay releases Panagiotis Tachtsidis, who unleashes an absolute rocket with that left foot of his into the roof of Kiraly’s net. Remember Greece failed to score a goal at home in all four of their previous matches in this campaign. They’ve got two today, which is something …
55 min: Ooooo that’s a nasty challenge from Fulham’s Mattila on Chris Baird. The Derby County man is clutching his ankle, he may have to come off.
GOAL! Greece 1-2 Hungary (Nemeth)
Former Liverpool man Krisztian Nemeth has scored what could be a crucial goal in Group F. Hungary have come from a goal behind to now lead in Piraeus! They are doing everything that can at the moment, but of course are still relying on Romania to give away a 2-0 lead in the Faroe Islands. Which probably isn’t going to happen is it?
52 min: Michael O’Neill appears like he doesn’t want to take any chances with McNair following his collision earlier. The Manchester United man comes off in place of Conor McLaughlin. who plays at Fleetwood Town.
50 min: Finland have started really well here. The substitute Lod gets clear down the left and he gets to the byline, crossing back to Pohjanpalo, but the striker slices his finish over the bar from eight yards out! It came at him quickly, but that’s a big miss.
48 min: As it did at the beginning of the first half, Dallas seizes on a Finland mistake and drives towards goal. He has the option to square it to Lafferty, but Dallas takes it on himself – a brilliant sliding tackle from Arajuuri quells the danger for Finland. Needed to get that spot on and he did inside the area.
Peeeep peeep! Here we go, the last 45 mins of of Euro 2016 qualifying for these 10 teams.
Here’s that Michael O’Neill whoopsie.
Michael O'Neill is that relaxed he's started breakdancing on the sidelines! https://t.co/cx26eGjTaJ
— Bettingapps (@bettingappscom) October 11, 2015
“Shouldn’t Scotland supporters everywhere be eternally grateful for Lewandowski’s equaliser?” emails Lou Roper. “After all, it put paid to the inevitable humiliation/embarrassment/mortal anguish of Gibraltar 1 Scotland 1 to deny qualification. With no pressure, the Scots can run out 2-0 winners tonight.”
Half-time scores
Group F
Finland 0-1 Northern Ireland
Faroe Islands 0-2 Romania
Greece 1-1 Hungary
As it stands: Northern Ireland top the group, Romania are second ahead of Hungary.
Group I
Serbia 0-1 Portugal
Armenia 0-2 Albania
As it stands: Portugal already confirmed as group winners, but Albania will leapfrog Denmark into second place if they can hang onto their 2-0 lead in Armenia. Denmark have already played all of their matches, it’s out of their hands!
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44 min: Finland are finishing the half the stronger, Pohjanpalo first to a pull-back from the byline, but he is caught in two minds: neither shooting or controlling the match properly. Good chance, that.
42 min: Alexander Ring has pulled a muscle, he’ll have to come off. Robin Lod on in his place.
“Albania!” emails an exasperated Simon McMahon. “Flipping Albania. Iceland. Wales. Northern Ireland. But not Scotland. No sir. Thanks, but no thanks. We’re stubborn that way.”
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GOAL! Greece 1-1 Hungary (Lovrencsics)
Hungary are back in it! A deep cross is swung in from the left for Hungary, and Greece’s left back Holebas (also Watford’s) is static, allowing Lovrencsics to sneak in and head Hungary level. Hungary still need Romania to slip up – but they look in no danger of doing that, they’re currently 2-0 up in the Faroe Islands.
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36 min: Ha. Michael O’Neill very nearly did a whoopsie in his technical area, slipping and sliding on some astroturf in his smart shoes. Brunt has a little chuckle to himself as he takes a throw-in.
34 min: Great save from McGovern! Finland’s Pohjanpalo, who once turned down a move to Liverpool, latches onto a low cross and flicks it goalwards, but Michael McGovern gets down well to his left and palms it away from goal.
GOAL! Finland 0-1 Northern Ireland (Cathcart 31)
NI have the lead, and are well set to top the group now! Finland fail to clear a Northern Ireland corner, McNair feeds McGinn with a clever ball out to the right, and the Aberdeen man crosses for Cathcart at the near post, who flicks it in. Northern Ireland lead!
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28 min: Finland create their first real opening: Sparv reacting quickest to a high ball, but screwing his shot wide from just left of the penalty spot.
GOAL! Armenia 0-2 Albania (Djimsiti)
Albania have got another one! They only need to hang onto this two-goal cushion and they’re heading for France next year. Berat Djimsiti got a crucial touch to deflect Taulant Xhaka’s (not to be confused with Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka) rasping free kick to give the Armenian goalkeeper Kasperov no chance!
25 min: Brunt has another shot from range, and this time it’s Chris Baird gets in the way. Brunt only has one international goal for NI, hopefully his team-mates will stop blocking his shots.
GOAL! Armenia 0-1 Albania (Gashi)
Albania have their all-important goal! It’s a scrappy one – with Gashi somehow forcing the ball over the line after two blocked shots – but they won’t care. It might actually be given as an own goal, Hovhannisyan might be culpable for that one. If Albania win this match, they will leapfrog Denmark into second place and qualify automatically! As it stands, Denmark are heading for the play-offs.
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18 min: McNair has recovered from his knock, and he’ll continue to play. A high press from Dallas forces Arajuuri into an error, and suddenly Northern Ireland have four on four. They are pouring forward, but a loose pass from Norwood gives the ball away. What a waste!
GOAL! Serbia 0-1 Portugal (Nani)
Nani, who is captain for Portugal in the absence of Ronaldo, gives Portugal the lead, tapping home a rebound after a lightning quick counter attack. Remember, there is nothing to play for in this game.
12 min: McNair has gone down and stayed down after a nasty collision. He’s being seen to by the medical staff, but appears to be holding his side. Conor McLaughlin primed to come on if needed.
10 min: Thwack! Chris Brunt cracks one from 30 yards out, and it was flying in the top corner, but Gareth McAuley accidentally gets in the way of the strike,and the ball flies harmlessly over the bar. Lucky escape for Finland, it’s all Northern Ireland at the moment.
8 min: So nearly a goal for Northern Ireland, Finland’s goalkepper Hradecky sending a horrible clearance right to the feet of Dallas, who so nearly catches the keeper out at the near post. In the end, it was a good save to keep the scores level at 0-0.
GOAL! Faroe Islands 0-1 Romania (Budescu 4)
And it’s got worse for Hungary, as Romania have gone one up! Attacking midfielder Constantin Budescu side-footing a lovely finish from the edge of the area. Dream start for Romania!
Constantin Budescu 0:1 Amazing Goal | Faroe Islands - Romania - 11.10.2015 HD - http://t.co/Fhd8WXIwYk via @dailymotionind
— Earth Savi (@Earthsavi) October 11, 2015
GOAL! Greece 1-0 Hungary (Stafylidis 4)
In their 10th attempt of trying, Greece have scored a goal at home! Augburg’s Konstantinos Stafylidis has got the goal. Hungary need to better Romania’s result by the way to qualify in second place.
4 min: Davis has started where he left off against Greece, looking lively between the lines. It’s worth pointing out that even without the injured Jonny Evans, the entire back four for Northern Ireland are Premier League players, and have all featured regularly this season, apart from Paddy McNair at Manchester United.
2 min: Northern Ireland win a corner and Stuart Dallas darts to the near post but can only flash a first-time shot over the bar.
Peeeep peeeep! It’s a go go in all five matches.
Portugal have already qualified as winners of Group I and fourth-placed Serbia can’t catch Albania in third for a play-off spot, so their match is the least meaningful match of this clockwatch. Cristiano Ronaldo has been given the night off, and has already flown home, which will please Real Madrid’s Rafa Benitez.
Flying with style. pic.twitter.com/4NqgRZd5ga
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 8, 2015
Michael O’Neill has been talking to the cameras inside the Olympiastadion, Helsinki and you can already hear the Northern Ireland fans in full voice. 10 minutes to go.
The players had a long night on Thursday, which is understandable and they got to their beds on Friday.
Whether you want to catch up on previous goals and results, or just want to bask in the glory of Northern Ireland’s qualifying campaign, their FA have put together this rather marvellous video.
Teams
I’ve got some for you … Lafferty starts!
Group F: Finland v Northern Ireland
Finland: Hradecky, Jalasto, Arajuuri, Ojala, Uronen, Schuller, Sparv, Mattila, Ring, Sadik, Pohjanpalo. Subs: Maenpaa, Moisander, Toivio, Pukki, Lod, Arkivuo, Lam, Hamalainen, Raitala, Joronen.
Northern Ireland: McGovern, McNair, McAuley, Baird, Cathcart, Davis, Brunt, Norwood, Dallas, McGinn, Lafferty. Subs: Carroll, Conor McLaughlin, Ferguson, McCullough, McKay, Ryan McLaughlin, McCourt, Reeves, Ward, Magennis, Boyce, Mannus.
Referee: Sergei Karasaev (Russia)
Faroe Islands v Romania
Faroe Islands: Nielsen, Naes, Faero, Nattestad, Sorensen, Holst, Vatnhamar, Bartalstovu, Hansson, Henriksen, Edmundsson. Subs: Gestsson, Davidsen, Jacobsen, Justinussen, Baldvinsson, Frederiksberg, Klaemint Olsen, Jakobsen, Joensen, Andreas Olsen, Thomsen.
Romania: Tatarusanu, Matel, Chiriches, Grigore, Rat, Popa, Budescu, Hoban, Pintilii, Torje, Stancu. Subs: Pantilimon, Papp, Moti, Chipciu, Andone, Maxim, Keseru, Filip, Alibec, Sanmartean, Prepelita, Lung Jr.
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia)
Greece v Hungary
Greece: Karnezis, Kitsiou, Papastathopoulos, Moras, Stafylidis, Mantalos, Samaris, Tachtsidis, Pelkas, Fortounis, Mitroglou. Subs: Kapino, Tziolis, Kone, Vyntra, Tzanetopoulos, Torosidis, Karelis, Holebas, Aravidis, Athanasiadis, Vellidis.
Hungary: Kiraly, Fiola, Juhasz, Kadar, Leandro, Lovrencsics, Gera, Elek, Dzsudzsak, Bode, Nemeth. Subs: Dibusz, Lang, Vanczak, Tozser, Kalmar, Nikolic, Osvath, Nagy, Markvart, Priskin, Guzmics, Bogdan.
Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
Group I: Armenia v Albania
Armenia: Kasparov, Hovhannisyan, Arzumanyan, Haroyan, Andonian, Mkhitaryan, Yuspashyan, Pizzelli, Mkrtchyan, Ghazaryan, Movsisyan. Subs: Beglaryan, Voskanyan, Grigoryan, Pogosyan, Sarkisov, Simonyan, Aslanyan-Mamedov, Hambartsumyan, Hayrapetyan, Manoyan, Ozbiliz, Manukyan.
Albania: Berisha, Aliji, Cana, Djimsiti, Hisaj, Basha, Xhaka, Memushaj, Roshi, Cikalleshi, Gashi. Subs: Shehi, Rrahmani, Lenjani, Sadiku, Kukeli, Ajeti, Shala, Salihi, Balaj, Kace, Abrashi, Hoxha.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
Serbia v Portugal
Serbia: Stojkovic, Tomovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Dusko Tosic, Kolarov, Zoran Tosic, Milivojevic, Ljajic, Matic, Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic. Subs: Rajkovic, Obradovic, Gudelj, Petkovic, Sulejmani, Brasanac, Spajic, Milinkovic-Savic, Katai, Fejsa, Skuletic, Dmitrovic.
Portugal: Rui Patricio, Semedo, Fonte, Bruno Alves, Eliseu, Nani, Andre Andre, Danilo Pereira, Veloso, Quaresma, Danny. Subs: Eduardo, Luis Neto, Rafa, Ricardo Pereira, Joao Moutinho, Eder, Bernardo Silva, Joao Mario, Rui Fonte, Cedric Soares, Hugo Ventura.
Referee: David Fernandez Borbalan (Spain)
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Lafferty’s larks are certainly something but what are your favourite celebration stories? If you have any words/pics/footage that you would like to share, do get in touch via michael.butler@theguardian.com or @michaelbutler18. I’m largely doing an MBM on a dead rubber so all will be warmly welcomed – whether it is football-based …
NI fans singing for us in Helsinki. Amazing few days. Manager, players & staff have made a lot of people proud #gawa pic.twitter.com/6569Ved8Fy
— Paul Gilmour (@skysportspaulg) October 11, 2015
or otherwise … “different drinks for different needs.”
"Drinks will be on me... in me..." #DavidBrent pic.twitter.com/ltXud7GTrx
— David Brent Fans (@DavidBrentMusic) October 10, 2015
There is the small matter of Poland v Ireland later on, which your trusty Guardian will be MBMing separately, but right here we will also be keeping a beady eye on Group I’s final round of matches: Armenia v Albania and Serbia v Portugal.
With Portugal unassailably top and second-placed Denmark having played all of their matches, the permutations for this group are very simple: Albania need to win to qualify ahead of Denmark – a draw for the eastern Europeans is not enough, as there is nothing to choose between themselves and the Danes in their head-to-head record, goal-difference (in those head-to head matches) or even goals scored (in those head-to-head matches).
Denmark have scored a higher number of away goals scored away from home in the matches, owing to their 1-1 draw in Albania in October. Denmark have the magnificently named Lasse Vibe to thanks for that goal. Got it? Good.
Preamble
It’s official: Northern Ireland have turned on the Banter Tap and are drinking deep from it’s frothy font. And why the heck not, their first appearance in a major tournament for 30 years is assured, IT’S A CELEBRATION!
Kyle Lafferty is the ring-leading gagman, but when you’ve scored seven goals in Northern Ireland’s qualifying campaign, a record only bettered by Robert Lewandowski, Artyom Dzyuba and Thomas Müller, you can probably forgive him for conducting post-match interview after the Greece game with a bottle of beer. “We’ll probably have an early night… NOOTTTT.” What a diamond.
Brilliant deadpan response from Kyle Lafferty pic.twitter.com/WdRZkByYqX
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) October 8, 2015
After terrorising the defences of Romania, Hungary, Finland, Faroe Islands and Greece in , Lafferty has not centred his crosshairs on Sky Sports News presenter Paul Gilmour, who has been soaked in beer by the striker (and Chris Baird), had to endure straight-faced trolling – Lafferty suggesting that he’d like to face one of Argentina or Brazil at next year’s Euro 2016 – and taunts over his footwear, banter that has been approved by the Irish FA, who tweeted this from their official account.
When Kyle Lafferty @LaffK qualifies for EURO2016........#DareToDream #GAWA pic.twitter.com/X1Q7qvlkC2
— Official Irish FA (@OfficialIrishFA) October 11, 2015
Not to be outdone, serial banter-merchant Michael O’Neill also got in on the act, suggesting to the media that he “hopes to pick Roy Hodgson’s brain before Euro 2016 finals.” What a joker.
There is, however, a little bit of serious business to attend to. For all his international exploits, Lafferty can’t get a game at club level with Norwich and will consider leaving in January in an attempt to make sure he is match-fit for next summer.
If it is time to leave I’ll take the opportunity. There’s no point in me sitting in the stands or playing for 15 minutes when there’s a massive tournament coming. I think I’ll give it until January then sit down with the manager.
Northern Ireland will top the group if they win today in Finland, or if Romania fail to win their final match away at the Faroe Islands. We’ll be following that game, as well as Hungary’s match in Greece. The table currenly looks like this in Group F …
… meaning that if Romania equal or better Hungary’s result, they are through, but also face the outcome of only making the play-offs despite being unbeaten. Finland, Faroe Islands and Greece all have nothing to play for, and all three matches are to be played simultaneously, all are 5pm (BST) kick-offs.
Enjoy the football, enjoy the banter.
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