Tough opener for NI

The Irish Football Association is currently in the process of identifying candidates for the vacant coaching post, with Nigel Worthington having stepped aside after failing to secure a place at Euro 2012.

Plans for the future are being drawn up, with Northern Ireland determined to ensure that they get the right man for the job.

The Irish FA has also been busy thrashing out the details of their next qualification programme, with the road to Brazil set to begin in the autumn of 2012.

IFA president Jim Shaw, chief executive Patrick Nelson and head of international administration David Currie were present at a meeting in Luxembourg on Friday, where representatives from the six nations in Group F met to discuss the schedule.

Northern Ireland's campaign gets under way with a challenging away clash against second seeds Russia on 7th September next year, a game that will also serve as the new boss' first competitive fixture with the national side.

Four days later the side return to Windsor Park to host Luxembourg - the group's bottom-ranked side at 127 in FIFA's standings.

Slipped

Northern Ireland, meanwhile, slipped five places to 89th in the last rankings to cap an unhappy end to the Worthington regime.

Next up on 16th October is the toughest match on paper, away to top seeds Portugal, before the 2012 programme concludes with Azerbaijan's visit to Belfast on 14th November.

The IFA plans to redevelop Windsor Park in 2013, which could provide the explanation for a rather uneven looking distribution of fixtures thereafter.

March 2013 sees two home matches in quick succession - with Russia arriving on the 22nd and Israel following on the 26th before Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal make the return trip to Northern Ireland on 6th September, a fourth home match in succession.

That would then clear the way for stadium work to continue in earnest as the team complete their campaign with three consecutive away games.

First up are Luxembourg on 10th September, followed by Azerbaijan on 11th October and Israel on 15th October.

Northern Ireland World Cup 2014 qualifying fixtures:

2012

September 7 - Russia v Northern Ireland

September 11 - Northern Ireland v Luxembourg

October 16 - Portugal v Northern Ireland

November 14 - Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan

2013

March 22 - Northern Ireland v Russia

March 26 - Northern Ireland v Israel

September 6 - Northern Ireland v Portugal

September 10 - Luxembourg v Northern Ireland

October 11 - Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland

October 15 - Israel v Northern Ireland