World Cup 2022 Uefa Qualifying Group C: Northern Ireland v Italy (Windsor Park, 7.45pm)
BE CAREFUL what you wish for. Northern Ireland wanted this final home qualifier against Italy to have something riding on it - and it does. Unfortunately, that need to win applies to the European champions.
Roberto Mancini's men must take three points and even then that won't guarantee them topping Group C, as Switzerland are level with them and host Bulgaria. The Italians currently hold a two-goal goal difference advantage, but the Swiss could soon eat into that in Lucerne - and they have the only away goal in the two draws between the teams.
The Italian sports papers are clear about what's required from their players tonight - victory, goals, and fighting to the final whistle, sending out these headline messages:
Non mollate! - don't give up!
Fino allo fine - until the end.
All'ultimo gol - to the last goal.
Even if Italy hadn't already altered their approach under former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini they would have to be more attacking tonight, as home boss Ian Baraclough is well ware:
"I don't think they're going to come here and try to sit back and soak up pressure. They like to have possession of the ball, he likes to play forward and wants his team to be full of energy, full of running.
"Our defenders and midfielders have got to be aware of those runs from out to in and from deep. He's been something different for Italy in the way he's set out as an attacking coach, and it suits their players and their style. There's plenty to think about."
Yet since their Euro triumph Italy have been solid rather than spectacular. Their results before that tournament were an indication of what was to come: three 2-0 victories, combining their traditional defensive meanness with flair going forward.
Since beating England at Wembley, however, they've only had one competitive win, 5-0 at home to table-proppers Lithuania, with three draws, including a damaging 1-1 in Florence against Bulgaria on their immediate return to qualifier action in September.
Sure, Jorginho's last-gasp penalty would and should have secured them qualification against the Swiss in Rome's Stadio Olimpico on Friday night, but their automatic progress remain as up in the air as his spot-kick was.
'Bara' would like the pressure to play on the visitors, but doesn't feel that it will: "I certainly hope they play with a bit of fear and they are uptight in their play.
"But Roberto has been involved in so many big games, and their players are constantly playing in big games, so you have to think about them coming here and it's just another game for them.
"Yes, it's a must-win for them but we can only think about ourselves. As long as we're not uptight or fearful about how we're going to attack the game, playing with a bit of a freedom within the set-up that we've got and expressing ourselves in the right areas, then it could make for an eye-catching game."
Although NI can't qualify, they're not certain of third spot, so Baraclough wants cool heads as they aim to take at least a point:
"We have to keep our emotions in check... The sound of the crowd roaring to encourage you to get a tackle in or get forward at times that can take over your mindset. Certainly more than ever we have to be careful of leaving spaces and gaps for them to exploit."
The versatile duo of Paddy McNair and Stuart Dallas sat out Sunday training due to slight concerns from Friday's win over Lithuania, but Baraclough is likely to go with the same, experience side if he can.
Northern Ireland haven't scored against Italy since 1961, when Derek Dougan and Billy McAdams levelled in Bologna in an eventual 3-2 friendly defeat.
Six meetings since then, three of them competitive, have yielded 12 Italian goals and five wins for the Azzurri. That is still the probable outcome, but the hosts will make the European champs work hard for progress to the World Cup.
