Switzerland controversies 'in past' - NI's McNair

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Paddy McNair asserts that the disputes Northern Ireland had with Switzerland are "behind us" ahead of the friendly match between the teams this Friday.

In the first leg of the 2018 World Cup playoff, Corry Evans faced a contentious penalty for a handball in the box, although it seemed the ball struck his shoulder, resulting in Switzerland making it through to the finals by a narrow margin.

Later, during the 2022 World Cup qualifying, defender Jamal Lewis received a second yellow card for taking too long with a throw-in, contributing to Northern Ireland's 2-0 defeat in Geneva.

"I suppose we just want to win against them," stated McNair, who will be leading as captain at Windsor Park.

"The incident in 2018 with the handball involving Corry was painful, and Jamal receiving two yellow cards in that last match was frustrating.

"I think those events are behind us. Whenever you step onto the field, your goal is to win.

"They have a variety of different players, and so do we, so I don't believe that will be a significant topic of discussion."

McNair relocated to the United States to sign with San Diego FC in the MLS this January after his time at West Brom.

The 29-year-old, who previously played for Manchester United and Middlesbrough, has mentioned that he would not have made the move to America if it risked his spot on the Northern Ireland team.

"I have truly enjoyed my time here, the football and everything that comes with it," he expressed.

"Representing Northern Ireland has always meant a great deal to me. I will undoubtedly wear the green shirt for as long as possible.

"Back in my youth, I attended most of the matches and always loved visiting Windsor Park. Playing for my country is something I deeply cherish."

McNair is the final remaining player from the Euro 2016 squad and is now the most experienced member of Michael O'Neill's current roster.

He is set to take the captain's armband on Friday, which has been shared among the squad since Jonny Evans and Steven Davis retired, and he aims to "lead by example" for the young Northern Ireland team.

The upcoming friendly against Switzerland and their journey to Sweden on Tuesday are part of Northern Ireland's preparation for the World Cup qualifying campaign starting in September. McNair is confident that Northern Ireland has the talent to reach the finals in 2026.

"We possess a lot of skilled players, and with each campaign, they gain more experience, making this a very exciting group in the long term," he remarked.

"I just hope we can secure a spot in the World Cup; that would be incredible, but there is significant work to be done to achieve that."