N Ireland 1 - 4 Germany

A Northern Ireland side weakened by players' reluctance to play were no match for Germany as the World Cup 2006 hosts had a comfortable time winning 4-1 in a friendly at Windsor Park which was held to mark the IFA's 125th anniversary.

Four of manager Lawrie Sanchez's squad refused to play, while Keith Gillespie was the only free agent to offer his services to his country.

However Jeff Whitley, Phil Mulryne, Colin Murdock and James Quinn sat it out fearing that if they were injured it could do their immediate futures more harm than good.

Subsequently, Sanchez could only field an understrength side and found a strong Germany side on top of their game, despite having defender Robert Huth sent off in the 15th minute leading to the home team's penalty.

Healy converted the penalty to give the home side a surprise lead

The Irish lead lasted just two minutes as Gerald Asamoah chested down from a Michael Ballack cross before smashing the ball past Taylor.

N Ireland had a chance to restore their lead on the half hour mark but Steve Davis wasted an excellent chance from a Stuart Elliott cross, heading over the bar.

The scores were level at half-time, but it was the visitors who created the first opening of the second half with Chris Baird having to make a crucial block to deny the dangerous Ballack.

Germany went ahead after 62 minutes when Ballack converted a penalty after Gillespie shoved substitute Schweinsteger as he ran into the area.

And they increased their lead just three minutes later with substitute Sebastian Dieslier's inswinging free-kick headed in at the near post by Ballack for his second goal of the night.

Sanchez rang the changes with less than 20 minutes left on the clock as Lincoln defender Gareth McAuley came on for his debut with Gilliespie, who was booked in the penalty incident, leaving the field.

Andy Kirk, Warren Feeney and Andy Smith were also introduced as N Ireland began looking to reduce the lead.

Wrexham-bound goalkeeper Michael Ingham became the night's second debutant for N Ireland with fourteen minutes remaining, taking over in goal from skipper Maik Taylor.

But Ingham's first job was to pick the ball out of the net after substitute Podolski broke into the box in the 81st minute before finding the net.