Vauxhall International Challenge Match
Scotland v Northern Ireland
Wednesday, March 25th 2014, 7:45pm kick-off
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Scotland will play their first game at Hampden for over a year in the Vauxhall International Challenge match against Northern Ireland tomorrow night.
Michael O’Neill’s team are sitting second in their UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying group after recording famous wins over Greece and Hungary and will play Finland in Belfast on Sunday 29 March.
Sports Journalist Stephen Looney of the Sunday World has given us the lowdown on what Scotland can expect from the Northern Irish on Wednesday night:
Who is Northern Ireland’s biggest threat?
Undoubtedly Kyle Lafferty. In the last campaign Kyle was out of sorts and didn’t feature much for different reasons but he has been on fire in this campaign to date with three goals so far. Can create and finish when on song.
How is the team likely to set-up tactically v Scotland?
Michael O’Neill liked a 4-2-3-1 system in the last campaign but has settled on a 4-5-1 or a 4-3-3 formation to great success in recent games. More likely to tinker with personnel than his system with the Finland game in mind.
How does Aberdeen’s Niall McGinn fit into the squad?
When fit and available, Jamie Ward is most likely to partner Kyle Lafferty upfront so Niall has made a vital contribution on the flanks or coming off the bench as an impact player. Combined well with Lafferty in the opening Euro 2016 game against Hungary and got a well deserved goal.
What have you made of Northern Ireland’s Euro campaign so far?
Northern Ireland’s results and progress have been nothing short of astonishing in the current campaign, bearing in mind the last, failed campaign and the manager deserves immense credit. Three straight wins earned in style had the fans purring before reality kicked in with the defeat to Romania in Bucharest in November.
Score prediction
2-2, Lafferty to grab a late equaliser.
-
Scotland
- News
- Fixtures & Results
- Scotland Squads
- Supporters & Tickets
- Shop
- Official Scotland Podcast
- Competition | Scotland Golf Accessories
- 50 Greatest Internationals
- Roll of Honour
- Scottish Cup
- Performance
-
Football Development
- News
- Participation
-
Attractive Game
- Facilities
-
Grassroots Awards
-
Award Categories
- Best Volunteer in Youth Football
- Best Volunteer in Girls' & Women's Football
- Best Volunteer in Adult Football
- Best Para-Football Activity, Project or Person
- Best Community Football For All Project
- Best Young Volunteer
- Best Community Football Club
- Best Fun Football Centre/Activity/Coach
- Best Grassroots Referee
- Winners
-
Award Categories
- Discrimination Reporting Form
- Coaching
-
Club Services
-
Developing Your Club
- Club Resources
-
Club Stories
- Annan Athletic Case Study
- Blairgowrie & Rattray
- Bonnyrigg Rose Case Study
- Cumbernauld Colts
- Cumnock Juniors & Ayr United
- Jeanfield Swifts Case Study
- Jimmy Johnstone Academy
- Musselburgh Windsor
- Turriff Community Football Club
- Broxburn United Case Study
- East Kilbride United Community Sports Club Case Study
- Sauchie Juniors Academy Case Study
- Hermes Bridge of Don YFC Case Study
- Scottish Football Marketing Podcast
- Howdens Game Changer Programme
- Teamworks
- Club Accreditation
- Scottish FA Grassroots Pitch & Facilities Case Studies
- Scottish FA Extra Time Programme
-
Developing Your Club
- Regions
- Value of Football
- Activity Hub
- Scottish Football Facilities Fund
-
Scottish FA
- News
-
Referees
- News
- Referee Appointments
-
Become A Referee
-
Referee Structure & Pathway
- Category One Referee
- Specialist Assistant Referee
- Category Two Referee
- Category Three Referee
- Category Three Development Referee
- Category Four Referee
- Category Four Development Referee
- Category Five Referee
- Category Six Referee
- Category Seven Referee
- Category Seven A Referee
- Category Seven B Referee
- Category Eight Referee
- Senior Associate Referee
- Female Referee Recruitment
-
Referee Structure & Pathway
- Referees' Associations
- Referee Education
- Child Wellbeing and Protection Policy
- Key Match Incident Review Panel Outcomes
- Football Governance
- Wellbeing & Protection
- Organisation
- Power of Football
- Pitching In