Northern Ireland's 2012 qualifying campaign schedule has been confirmed with Nigel Worthington's team beginning with an away game in Slovenia - where they lost 2-0 in 2008 - on Friday September 3.
Worthington's men are in the same group as current world champions Italy, though the Italians will need to lift their game in South Africa if they are to still hold that title when they visit Windsor Park on Friday, 8 October four days before the North travel to play Brian Kerr's Faroe Islands.
A talented Serbia side and Estonia make up the group with both games against the latter not coming until late in Northern Ireland's campaign and Worthington's side facing the toughest of finishes with an away game in Italy.
With Italy, Serbia and Slovenia all taking part in this summer's World Cup, qualification for Poland and Ukraine looks a tall order for the Irish - despite two decent showings in their most recent competitions - and the way their fixtures have panned out, if anything, does not help them.
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Euro 2012 qualifiers; Northern Ireland fixtures:
Sept 3, 2010 - Slovenia v Northern Ireland
Oct 8, 2010 - Northern Ireland v Italy
Oct 12, 2010 - Faroe Islands v Northern Ireland
Mar 25, 2011 - Serbia v Northern Ireland
Mar 29, 2011 - Northern Ireland v Slovenia
Aug 10, 2011 - Northern Ireland v Faroe Islands
Sept 2, 2011 - Northern Ireland v Serbia
Sept 6, 2011 - Estonia v Northern Ireland
Oct 7, 2011 - Northern Ireland v Estonia
Oct 11, 2011 - Italy v Northern Ireland