Keith Burkinshaw once joked about changing Tottenham’s colours to green when he was Spurs manager because of the way Gerry Armstrong performed in a Northern Ireland shirt.
Armstrong was in the Northern Ireland team who reached back-to-back World Cups in 1982 and 1986 and always raised their level when playing for their country.
Northern Ireland have a history of punching above their weight in sport, given the size of the nation — and the current football side are no different.
They play Switzerland in the first leg of their World Cup play-off in Belfast on Thursday and are two games away from reaching the finals in Russia next summer.
Armstrong, whose goal against Spain in the 1982 World Cup is one of the greatest sporting moments in Northern Ireland history, says they can qualify despite being the underdogs.
Switzerland were seeded for the draw and are favourites but Armstrong said: “We have got big hearts, great camaraderie and a team spirit. The players love playing for their country.
“I had the same scenario when I was at Spurs. Keith Burkinshaw actually said to me once, ‘I have got to change the Tottenham colours to green because the way you play when you play for Northern Ireland is unbelievable’. It is the pride of playing for your country.
“We have always done that. We do the same in a lot of sports, it is not just football. Look at athletics, snooker, we have got boxing world champions. Look at Rory McIlroy. It is just something to do with the people.
“We are definitely the underdogs against Switzerland but, of course, we can do it.”
Another reason behind Northern Ireland’s success is manager Michael O’Neill.
O’Neill has taken Northern Ireland from a record low of 129 in the world rankings to reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 — their first major tournament in 30 years — and now to the brink of the World Cup.
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Armstrong admits he is surprised a Premier League club has not come in for O’Neill. The 47-year-old, who was recently linked with the Leicester job, has three more years on his contract and Armstrong said: “It is an ageing team now, with players like Aaron Hughes at 38 and Gareth McAuley at 37, so I think Michael has got one last hurrah. I am hoping that is going to be the World Cup finals next summer. Then we will see where he goes from there.
“I think he will go to a big club at some stage. He has done an amazing job and is a good manager with a really good brain. It is only a matter of time before someone snaps him up. He has performed miracles.”
Northern Ireland have risen to 23rd in the world and host a Switzerland side ranked 11th — one place above England — in the latest standings.
But Northern Ireland have lost only once in 11 competitive matches at Windsor Park (against Germany last month when they had already secured a play-off place) and Armstrong said: “Michael has them so well organised. We do not concede many goals and are great on set-plays, that is one of our strengths from corner kicks and free-kicks.”
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