New spirit points way to magnificent seven for McGinn and Northern Ireland

Niall McGinn battles Italy's Domenico Criscito

Kyle Lafferty celebrates on the final whistle

Steven Davis battles Italy's Antonio Cassano

Chris Baird battles Italy's Stefano Mauri

Northern Ireland's Gareth McAuley battles Italy's Giorgio Chiellini

Northern Ireland's Steven Davis battles Italy's Andrea Pirlo

Phillip Hughes and Steven Bryce from Milltown Dungannon

Taylors from Belfast: Stephen, Patton, Duncan and Iain

Mathew and David Herron with Jeff and Lauren Hagin

Northern Ireland fans Roger Irvine, Peter Swann, Ricky Neely and Ricky Parker

Northern Ireland's Gareth McAuley jumps with Italy goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano

Norther Ireland's David Healy battles Italy's Daniele De Rossi

Norther Ireland fans Billy McAneney and his grand daughter Sarah Shields from Bangor

Steven Taylor and Nathan Wilkinson from Portadown

Reeny Crawford from New Zealand and Dorothy Gibson from Lisburn

Stephen McCormick from Newtownards pictured before the match

Northern Ireland's Kyle Lafferty celebrates on the final whistle

Northern Ireland's Stephen Craigan (centre) and Steven Davis with Italy's Antonio Cassano

Stephen Craigan with Italy's Daniele De Rossi just before Northern Ireland claimed the ball hit the Italian for a handball

Drew Burgess (left) with his wife Julie (right) and Stuart Killen from Newtownards

Kilkeel Northern Ireland supporters club

Portavogie Northern Ireland supporters club

Zak Stewart from the Portavogie Northern Ireland supporters club

Northern Ireland captain Aaron Hughes had his family cheering him on during Friday nights Euro 2012 qualifier against Italy at Windsor Park. Daughters Keira (6), Leila (4) pictured with mum Sam walked out with dad before the big game

Northern Ireland's Kyle Lafferty celebrates on the final whistle with Italy goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano

Grant McCann battles Italy's Mattia Cassani

Gareth McAuley and Kyle Lafferty celebrate on the final whistle

Nigel Worthington celebrates on the final whistle

Steven Davis of Northern Ireland gets past Andrea Pirlo of Italy

Stephen Craigan of Northern Ireland salutes the crowd

Niall McGinn of Northern Ireland is challenged by Claudio Marchisio of Italy

Claudio Marchisio of Italy controls the ball during the EURO 2012 Qualifier Group C match

Stefano Mauri of Italy and Chris Brunt of Northern Ireland compete during the Euro 2012 group C qualifying match

Warren Feeney of Northern Ireland challenges Giorgio Chiellini of Italy

Florian Solinas Newark who will be 9 tomorrow from Italy but who lives in Belfast receives his complimentary tickets to tonight's International football match at Windsor park from Podium for Sport Director Paul

Stephen Craigan of Northern Ireland sees his cross stopped by the arm of Daniele De Rossi of Italy

11 October 2010

Niall McGinn has only been in the Northern Ireland squad for a couple of years.

It hasn’t taken him long to learn that there has been a major turnaround in the country’s footballing fortunes in comparison to just a few years ago.

And after Friday night’s goalless draw with Italy left Nigel Worthingtons’ team with mixed emotions — many believing that it was a game they could and possibly should have won — the flying Celtic winger has his sights on a magnificent seven.

Victory over the Faroe Islands in Toftir tomorrow would put Northern Ireland on seven points from three games in the Euro 2012 qualifiers and with Italy top of the group, three points ahead with a game more played, that would be seen as a fantastic start to the campaign before a five month break in proceedings.

“With four points from two games it’s a good start,” said McGinn, who came off the bench against the Italians, having missed last month’s win in Slovenia through injury.

“Hopefully we can go on Tuesday and get three points and that’ll be seven from three games which would be a good position to be in.”

Amazingly there was disappointment in the air after failing to score against Italy — and to think that before the victory in Slovenia the team had gone seven games without a goal and 10 without a win.

And prior to the famous wins against England and Spain, five and four years ago respectively, the best Northern Ireland could hope for in most battles with the big boys was a draw.

Now Windsor Park is a fortress again, McGinn senses a whole new unquenchable spirit in the Northern Ireland team.

“A few boys had heads down because they were disappointed, but a point against Italy is unbelievable,” said McGinn.

“We could have played a bit better, but on the night I think coming away with a point against Italy is positive.

“A few years ago we’d have been coming away thinking we’d be happy with a good performance.

“Now over the last few years we expect to be picking up points no matter who we are playing, especially at home, and that’s a good way to be.”