Northern Ireland to face Euro 2024 qualifiers Romania and Scotland in March friendlies

Northern Ireland will begin 2024 with away friendlies against Romania and Scotland in March.

Michael O’Neill’s side will face the Romanians in the capital Bucharest at Arena Națională, home of the national team and FCSB, on Friday, March 22nd.

And a showdown with another Euro 2024 qualifier, Scotland, follows four days later on the 26th at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Romania topped a qualifying group ahead of Switzerland and Israel, while Scotland finished runners-up to 2008 and 2012 champs Spain after beating Luis de la Fuenta’s side in Glasgow.

The Green and White Army endured a difficult qualifying campaign in which they lost seven of their ten games and finished second-last in Group H.

Two wins over San Marino ensured they finished above the microstate in the table and they closed with a promising 2-0 win over group winners Denmark.

Goals from Isaac Price and Dion Charles earned the three points at Windsor Park following home defeats to Slovenia, Finland and Kazakhstan.

"Where we are now with this group of players, what they need is a bit of time," boss O'Neill said after the surprise win. "They need games at this level and positive experiences like they had tonight.

"They've had a few negative experiences and that just makes it more difficult. You want to be coming away to play international football believing that you should be at this level and that you can win at this level. Hopefully that creates that for the players tonight."

And O’Neill will hope to begin the new year with a fresh slate but will do so without 73-times-capped defender Craig Cathcart, who retired in September.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill says their surprise 2-0 win over Denmark is big for the "self belief" of his youthful side ✅⚽️#BBCFootballpic.twitter.com/jHhKFlNBvM

— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) November 20, 2023