TALKING POINTS TONIGHT

BY IAN PARKER

ALTHOUGH Scotland are the side preparing for Euro 2024 after Northern Ireland missed out, the visitors might be in more confident mood after recent results. Here are the key talking points ahead of the game.

Stopping the rot

Scotland flew out of the traps in their Euro qualifying group by recording five wins out of five and sealed their place in Germany with two matches remaining. But momentum has stalled and Steve Clarke’s side have now gone six games without victory, conceding 18 goals during that spell. Opponents have included France, Spain, England and Netherlands but Scotland have not gone seven matches without a win for 19 years.

Friday’s performance in Bucharest was another step forward for Michael O’neill’s young side as Conor Bradley, Isaac Price (above), Trai Hume (left), Brodie Spencer and Shea Charles – all 22 or under – caught the eye in a confident display. Asked what he wanted to see in Glasgow, the first thing O’neill said was “more of the same”.

What might have been

In early 2018 O’neill turned down an offer to become Scotland manager after holding talks with the SFA about replacing Gordon Strachan.

Having led Northern Ireland to Euro 2016 two years earlier, O’neill - who lives in Scotland - had considered the possibility of a change but opted to remain with Northern Ireland until taking the Stoke job in November 2019.

Speaking about the decision yesterday, O’neill said: “I’m not sure I would’ve been in the dugout, they might have moved me on. I think I was aware of the potential, I always knew

Scotland had a good squad.”

Tweaking the plan More of the same

For three-quarters of Friday’s friendly in Amsterdam, Scotland performed as well in possession against Netherlands as they have done for several years in an away game against a top seed nation. But they failed to take one of their many chances, lost a goal from 25 yards and then fell away in the latter stages to end up with a baffling 4-0 defeat. Craig Gordon (right) will be hoping to get a chance to play his way into the Euro 2024 squad following his return from a double leg break, his Hearts team-mate Lawrence Shankland will be desperate for another opportunity after missing a glorious chance in Amsterdam, while Lewis Ferguson will be hoping his fine Serie A form gets him a start.

Will Reid start again?

Jamie Reid, 29, was the oldest player in Northern Ireland’s starting line-up on Friday but the Stevenage striker (left) was nevertheless making his debut a full decade after the second of his two appearances for the under-21s. But he grabbed his chance with both hands as he put Northern Ireland in front just seven minutes in, full of running at the National Arena to spearhead an energetic attack.