World Cup play-offs LIVE: Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina & Italy v Northern Ireland build-up
'Northern Ireland have nothing to fear but everything to gain'published at 16:33 GMT16:33 GMTItaly v Northern Ireland (19:45 GMT)Stuart DallasBBC Sport NI Columnist
It has been 40 years since Northern Ireland's last World Cup, and they have been handed the toughest possible draw if they are to make the finals this summer.If they can win in Italy, and then again in either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, then it would be something very, very special.Michael O'Neill and his players deserve a lot of credit for being in this position, and it shows the progress that has been made over the past few years as the squad continues to grow.Despite that, few outside the group will expect them to win in Bergamo on Thursday and that can be an advantage.Michael's squad is young and energetic. They can relish the opportunity, and they will be quietly confident of causing an upset.Italy maybe aren't as strong as what they once were, but they are still a big nation with quality players throughout their side.But the pressure is all on them to not miss out on a third World Cup in a row, so Northern Ireland have nothing to fear, nothing to lose and everything to gain.
