In 1982 Northern Ireland beat hosts Spain and came within a game of a semi-final appearance.
Gerry Armstrong - who blasted the ball into the net to defeat Spain - says the camaraderie within the squad was "unbelievable"When it comes to the World Cup, we all like underdogs - the team that pulls off the shock result, knocking one of the big footballing nations down a notch.Forty years ago Northern Ireland sent shockwaves through the 1982 World Cup, beating hosts Spain and coming within one game of making the semi-final.
"It became that you just couldn't wait for the internationals to meet up with your mates and have some craic again," he says.'We believed' Northern Ireland were in their first World Cup since 1958 - when they reached the quarter-finals - and were in a group with Honduras, Yugoslavia and hosts Spain.Draws against Honduras and Yugoslavia in their first two games seemed to confirm that impression and left the team needing a result against Spain in Valencia on the night of 25 June.
"There was a silence after it, it might have been for a second but it seemed longer, and I can still see Norman [Whiteside]'s hands go up celebrating and Sammy Mac's hands go up to celebrate," Armstrong says. Yet when the cards came they were given to Northern Ireland for reacting, including a red for defender Mal Donaghy with 30 minutes left.Armstrong remembers that back at their hotel broadcaster Jimmy Hill was waiting at the front door with Champagne.Hundreds of telegrams congratulating the team were sent to the hotel.
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