How Northern Ireland qualified for their last World Cup 32 years ago

Northern Ireland started their qualifying campaign for the 1986 World Cup by losing to part-timers in Finland but they ended it by triumphing at Wembley

By Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog, part of the Guardian Sport Network

When the draw was made for the 1986 World Cup qualifiers, the English press said it would be “easy pickings” for their side. Bobby Robson’s team only had to finish in the top two of a group containing Romania, Northern Ireland, Finland and Turkey, but the manager urged caution, saying: “Romania are the dark horses and will be a danger, but Northern Ireland will be tough when you consider they have beaten West Germany twice in a year and did wonderfully well in the last World Cup.”

Continue reading...