Northern Ireland national football team – record in major tournaments
This page covers the record of the Northern Ireland national football team in the Football World Cup and European Football Championship. In the "Results" section, home result is always given before away result. Where Northern Ireland only played a team once, (h) and (a) indicates home and away.
Results
Qualification Brazil 1950(Group 1)
Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 3 |
3= | ![]() |
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 17 |
3= | ![]() |
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
England qualified. Scotland also qualified, but withdrew as they had previously decided to participate only if they finished top of the group. FIFA offered the place to France, the runner-up of Group 3. They initially accepted, but later declined. FIFA decided not to allow anyone else to qualify, leaving the World Cup one team short.
This group was also the 1950 British Home Championship.
Qualification Switzerland 1954 (group 3)
Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | +7 |
![]() |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
![]() |
2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 |
![]() |
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -4 |
October 3, 1953 |
Northern Ireland ![]() |
1–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Norman Lockhart (P) | Charlie Fleming 2, Jackie Henderson |
Qualification Sweden 1958
Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
2 | ![]() |
4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
3 | ![]() |
3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
World Cup finals Sweden 1958
First round (Group 1)
Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1.40 |
![]() |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.80 |
![]() |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 2.00 |
![]() |
2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 0.50 |
June 11, 1958 19:00 |
Argentina ![]() |
3 – 1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Corbatta ![]() Menéndez ![]() Avio ![]() |
(Report) | McParland ![]() |
June 15, 1958 19:00 |
West Germany ![]() |
2 – 2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Rahn ![]() Seeler ![]() |
(Report) | McParland ![]() ![]() |
Play-off:
June 17, 1958 19:00 |
Northern Ireland ![]() |
2 – 1 (a.e.t.) | ![]() |
---|---|---|
McParland ![]() ![]() |
(Report) | Zikán ![]() |
Quarter final
June 19, 1958 19:00 |
France ![]() |
4 – 0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Wisnieski ![]() Fontaine ![]() ![]() Piantoni ![]() |
(Report) |
Qualification, 1960-1982
Tournament | Section | Placing | Results | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Euro 1960, France | Did not enter | No UK teams entered the tournament. | ||
Chile 1962 | Group 8: 3 teams, 1 qualifies | 2nd, 2pts/8 | ![]() ![]() |
|
Euro 1964, Spain | knockout, must win 3 rounds | Lost in 3rd round | ![]() ![]() |
|
England 1966 | Group 5: 4 teams, 1 qualifies | 2nd, 8pts/12 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Euro 1968, Italy | Combined results of 1967 and 1968 British Home Championships: 4 teams, 1 goes on to playoff | 4th, 3pts/12 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Mexico 1970 | Group 2: 3 teams, 1 qualifies | 2nd, 5pts/8 | ![]() ![]() |
|
Euro 1972, Belgium | Group 4: 4 teams, 1 goes on to playoff | 3rd, 6pts/12 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
West Germany 1974 | Group 6: 4 teams, 1 qualifies | 3rd, 5pts/12 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Euro 1976, Yugoslavia | Group 3: 4 teams, 1 goes on to playoff | 2nd, 6pts/12 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Argentina 1978 | Group 4: 4 teams, 1 qualifies | 3rd, 5pts/12 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Euro 1980, Italy | Group 1: 5 teams, 1 qualifies | 2nd, 9pts/16 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The first-ever matches against the Republic of Ireland. |
Spain 1982 | Group 6: 5 teams, 2 qualify | 2nd, 9pts/16 QUALIFIED |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
First Round (Group 5)
Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
![]() |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
![]() |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
![]() |
2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
June 17, 1982 21:15 |
Yugoslavia ![]() |
0 - 0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
(Report) |
La Romareda, Zaragoza Ref: Fredriksson (SWE) Attendance: 25,000 |
June 21, 1982 21:15 |
Honduras ![]() |
1 - 1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Laing 60' | (Report) | Armstrong 10' |
La Romareda, Zaragoza Ref: Chan (HKG) Attendance: 15,000 |
June 25, 1982 21:15 |
Spain ![]() |
0 - 1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
(Report) | Armstrong 47' |
Estadio Luis Casanova, Valencia Ref: Ortíz (PAR) Attendance: 49,562 |
Second Round (Group D)
Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 |
![]() |
1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
![]() |
1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 |
July 1, 1982 17:15 |
Austria ![]() |
2 - 2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Pezzey 50' Hintermaier 68' |
(Report) | Hamilton 27', 75' |
Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid Ref: Prokop (GDR) Attendance: 20,000 |
July 4, 1982 17:15 |
Northern Ireland ![]() |
1 - 4 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Armstrong 75' | (Report) | Giresse 33', 80' Rocheteau 46', 68' |
Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid Ref: Jarguz (POL) Attendance: 37,000 |
Qualification, 1984-86
Tournament | Section | Placing | Results | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Euro 1984, France | Group 6: 5 teams, 1 qualifies | 2nd, 11pts/16 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Northern Ireland were level with West Germany on points; the Germans got through on goal difference, +10 to +3. |
Mexico 1986 | Group 3: 5 teams, 2 qualify | 2nd, 10pts/16 QUALIFIED |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
World Cup Mexico '86
Group D
Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 |
![]() |
4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
![]() |
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 |
![]() |
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 |
June 3, 1986 12:00 |
Algeria ![]() |
1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Zidane 59' | (Report) | Whiteside 6' |
Estadio Tres de Marzo, Guadalajara Ref: Butenko (URS) Attendance: 22,000 |
June 7, 1986 12:00 |
Spain ![]() |
2–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Butragueño 1' Salinas 18' |
(Report) | Clarke 46' |
Estadio Tres de Marzo, Guadalajara Ref: Brummeier (AUT) Attendance: 28,000 |
June 12, 1986 12:00 |
Brazil ![]() |
3–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Careca 15', 87' Josimar 42' |
(Report) |
Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara Ref: Kirschen (GDR) Attendance: 51,000 |
Qualification, 1988-present
Tournament | Section | Placing | Results | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Euro 1988, West Germany | Group 4: 4 teams, 1 qualifies | 3rd, 3pts/12 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Italy 1990 | Group 6: 5 teams, 2 qualify | 4th, 5pts/16 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Euro 1992, Sweden | Group 7: 5 teams, 1 qualifies | 3rd, 7pts/16 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
USA 1994 | Group 3: 7 teams, 2 qualify | 4th, 13pts/24 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
3 points for a win from Euro '96 onwards.
Tournament | Section | Placing | Results | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Euro 1996, England | Group 6: 6 teams, 1 qualifies Six 2nd place teams qualify Two 2nd place teams have playoff |
3rd, 17pts/30 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
France 1998 | Group 9: 6 teams, 1 qualifies One 2nd place team qualifies Eight 2nd place teams have playoffs |
5th, 7pts/30 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Euro 2000, Netherlands & Belgium | Group 3 5 teams, 1 qualifies One 2nd place team qualifies Eight 2nd place teams have playoffs |
4th, 5pts/24 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
South Korea & Japan 2002 | Group 3: 7 teams, 1 qualifies, 2nd gets a playoff | 5th, 11pts/30 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Euro 2004, Portugal | Group 6: 5 teams, 1 qualifies, 2nd gets a playoff | 5th, 3pts/24 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Germany 2006 | Group 6: 6 teams, 1 qualifies Two 2nd place teams qualify Six 2nd place teams have a playoff |
4th, 9pts/30 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Euro 2008, Switzerland & Austria | Group F: 7 teams, 2 qualify | 3rd, 20pts/36₣ | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
David Healy became the record goalscorer in a single UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign with 13 goals in 11 games. |
South Africa 2010 | Group 3: 6 teams, 1 qualifies Eight of nine runners-up get a playoff |
Commences August 2008 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Details
Euro 2004
Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
18 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
![]() |
17 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 4 |
![]() |
10 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 10 |
![]() |
7 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 16 |
![]() |
3 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
Group matches
FIFA World cup 2006
Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
25 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 12 |
![]() |
24 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 9 | 18 |
![]() |
15 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 3 |
![]() |
9 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 18 | -8 |
![]() |
8 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 15 | -5 |
![]() |
3 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 21 | -20 |
Euro 2008
See the main article 2008 UEFA Championship Group F
Northern Ireland have unsuccessfully competed for qualification to the finals of the Euro 2008 competition. They were seeded in the sixth pot and drawn against Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Latvia, Iceland and Liechtenstein. In an unprecedented move, the Irish Football Association offered the national team and all its staff a £1 million pound bonus if the team qualified for Euro 2008.[1]
Their chances of qualifying got off to a poor start as a poor defensive display saw them go down 3-0 at home to Iceland. In their second game, they came back to defeat Spain 3-2 with a David Healy hat trick, the first in Belfast for thirty-five years since George Best, and their first win over Spain since the 1982 World Cup.[2] Northern Ireland then recorded a 0-0 draw against Denmark in Copenhagen[3] and a 1-0 win against Latvia at Windsor Park.[4] Northern Ireland played Liechtenstein in March 2007, picking up a 4-1 win.[5] The victory included another Healy hat-trick and Grant McCann's first international goal. A 2-1 victory against Sweden on 28 March saw Northern Ireland go top of Group F, having played more games than the other teams,[6] and they occupied a qualification spot at the midway point. Northern Ireland did not play in the June games and fell to third, but they defeated Liechtenstein 3-1, putting Northern Ireland into 2nd place. They slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Latvia in Riga, which dealt their qualification hopes a huge blow, even though later on the same day, both Sweden and Spain drew. Defeat in Iceland (2-1) four days later has seen them drop out of a qualification place again, a further draw against Sweden kept their hopes alive. On 17 November 2007 Northern Ireland defeated Denmark 2-1 at Windsor Park with goals from Warren Feeney and David Healy. Healy's thirteenth goal of the qualifying campaign saw him eclipse Davor Šuker's record of twelve, established during qualification for Euro 96.[7] On the 21 November, Northern Ireland lost the chance of qualifying, after losing 1-0 to Spain, and Latvia losing 2-1 to Sweden. Northern Ireland did finish the group in third place on 20 points.
As a result of this campaign, Northern Ireland have improved their standing, and were seeded in the third pool for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, higher than the sixth pool allocated for the current competition.
|
Results
Group F fixtures were settled at a meeting between the participants in Copenhagen, Denmark.[8]
References
- ↑ "NI back to reality". BBC Sport. 2006-09-04. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ↑ "Northern Ireland 3-2 Spain". BBC Sport. 2006-09-06. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ↑ "Denmark 0-0 N Ireland". BBC Sport. 2006-10-07. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ↑ "N Ireland 1-0 Latvia". BBC Sport. 2006-10-11. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ↑ "Liechtenstein 1-4 N Ireland". BBC Sport. 2007-03-24. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ↑ "N Ireland 2-1 Sweden". BBC Sport. 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ↑ "Northern Ireland 2-1 Denmark". BBC News. November 17, 2007. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ↑ Lars Berendt, Pia Schou Nielsen and Jacob Wadland. "Danmark starter og slutter med Island" (in Danish). DBU. Retrieved September 3, 2006.