'It's just about being ready for your moment' - Josh Magennis' Northern Ireland message before Italy

The 35-year-old forward will be dreaming of a chance to grab the glory on Thursday when Northern Ireland tackle Italy in Bergamo over the World Cup play-off semi-finals.

With success then setting up a final away test – next Tuesday against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina – for a place this summer in the World Cup finals, Magennis wants Michael O’Neill’s men to embrace the top-level stage.

“It's just about being ready for your moment,” said Magennis, as reported by BBC Sport NI. “Football is a game of moments...I know it's a 90-minute game, but it's a game full of moments.

"When that moment arises, you've got to be able to take it, whether you're helping your team-mate or it's for you individually.

"If you do that collectively, more times than they do it, nine times out of 10 you win the game...I believe that.

"As I said before, we're physically there, tactically we'll always have it with the manager and staff going into games.

"It's just when you have the opportunity to play and you wear the green and white jersey, that you take full advantage of it.”

Magennis, now sitting on 86 caps for his country and with the memories of the European Championships in 2016 on his CV, accepts the size of both the challenge and opportunity.

"It's a night we're going to remember for the rest of our lives, whether we get there or we don't,” he said. "It's one of those nights where it's a stalwart in your heart and your memory.

"And we're just trying our best to make it a good one.

"When we look back, like we did in 2016, we've got fond memories together rather than maybe if, buts and maybes.”

Northern Ireland head to Italy hoping for another move towards joining past heroes of 1958, 1982 and 1986 at representing the country on the beautiful game’s biggest stage.

Magennis, now on the books with Exeter at club level, is one of four strikers selected in O’Neill’s 28-strong panel for the crunch clash.