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Norethen Ireland

• Northern Irish players were originally ordered not to play in a 1958 finals match as the match was held on a Sunday. The Northern Irish FA reminded their players that it was against the Irish law to play the two 1958 First Round matches scheduled on the 'holy day'. The players protested, and the Northern Irish FA scrapped the rules at the very last minute. They won the first match, drew the second, and reached the quarter-finals.

• Northern Ireland is the smallest nation to reach quarter finals, in 1958 and in 1982.

• Where is Northern Ireland? It is aprt of the United Kingdom. Check out this map.