Northern Ireland can establish a five-point lead at the top of Group F if they manage to maintain their 100% record after facing Romania in Bucharest on Friday evening. Michael O'Neill's side have surprised European football in this campaign after claiming maximum points from their ties against Greece, the Faroe Islands and Hungary. Romania can leapfrog Northern Ireland at the top of the group if they win on home turf.
O'Neill will have to do without two of his most experienced players because of injury: captain Steven Davis and defender Aaron Hughes. Jamie Ward, who scored last time out against Greece, will also be out with a groin injury.
Romania are also unbeaten so far in this campaign but they recorded a setback at home against Hungary, a match that ended in a 1-1 draw. The two sides have last met in a competitive match in 1986, in the World Cup qualifiers, and that time Northern Ireland won both matches and qualified for the finals. They have also met in a friendly match on neutral ground in 2006 and Romania won 2-0.
Probable starting line-ups:
Romania: Tatarusanu - Papp, Chiriches, Grigore, Rat - Hoban, Pintilii - Sanmartean, Chipciu, Tanase - Keseru
Northern Ireland: Carroll - McLaughlin, McAuley, McNair, Cathcart - Evans, McGinn, Baird, Norwood, Brunt - Lafferty
My prediction: Romania to win 2-0.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Romania win - 4/7 Draw - 3/1 Northern Ireland win - 6/1
kkole 9 years ago
I don't think that Romania is something special but at home against Northen Ireland they got an easy win. Northen Ireland come to Romania with only one goal - to not concede goal and hoping for draw :) And that is not way to play football and qualify for EURO. Well done to Romania they are my favourites in this group
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
Shumar4life
9 years ago
Romania had good and quality team in some previous years but today that i not the case. They have to work a lot if they want to secure their place on the EC but it would be very tough. Northern Ireland has a fighting spirit and could cause lot of problems to Romanians but quality and advantage of the home field is on Romanian...
Romania had good and quality team in some previous years but today that i not the case. They have to work a lot if they want to secure their place on the EC but it would be very tough. Northern Ireland has a fighting spirit and could cause lot of problems to Romanians but quality and advantage of the home field is on Romanian side
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
JohnnyK
9 years ago
Johnny, I told you :P Northern Ireland defended well, no doubt about that, but failed to produce anything special in attack. They were hoping for a 0-0 draw, nothing more.
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
Johnajax 9 years ago
Well done johnny :) you correst predicted correct score on this match and I must congratulation to you. I didn't watch this match but I watched first three match of Northen ireland and I don't know how they lost that match. I think that quality is on Romania side but way that N. Ireland played so far is really special....
Well done johnny :) you correst predicted correct score on this match and I must congratulation to you. I didn't watch this match but I watched first three match of Northen ireland and I don't know how they lost that match. I think that quality is on Romania side but way that N. Ireland played so far is really special. But this is one strange group, another loss for Greece and this time they are beaten by Faroe Island... so unreal reasoult and great great group
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
Tomas.White 9 years ago
Very important win for republic Romania. They totally deserved it, and they justified they roll of favorite in this match. Scotland was not worthy opponent. They gave the best they could but they were defeated. Nothing much there to say about this match, just three points nearer to the final goal, which is qualifying for...
Very important win for republic Romania. They totally deserved it, and they justified they roll of favorite in this match. Scotland was not worthy opponent. They gave the best they could but they were defeated. Nothing much there to say about this match, just three points nearer to the final goal, which is qualifying for European Championship.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
Milaneli
9 years ago
Romania is clear favourite here, if you ask me. Iland nations allways had a tough time at Balkans. N. Ireland is on streak but it may end here, for sure. Ofcoures, its football, so anything can happend, but as long as Romania stick to their game plan, with stable defence and good attacking manners, they shoud be able to...
Romania is clear favourite here, if you ask me. Iland nations allways had a tough time at Balkans. N. Ireland is on streak but it may end here, for sure. Ofcoures, its football, so anything can happend, but as long as Romania stick to their game plan, with stable defence and good attacking manners, they shoud be able to win it.
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
JohnnyK
9 years ago
It will be a tough match, I agree, but Romania have better quality and I think they will manage to win eventually.
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
Johnajax 9 years ago
We have same name but not same opinion Johnny :) I think that this will be hard match for Romania> Northen Ireland have great start of qualification for euro and I think that this is their only chanse to go on Euro ever and in this really weak group everything is possible special when you have 3 wins at the start. So I...
We have same name but not same opinion Johnny :) I think that this will be hard match for Romania> Northen Ireland have great start of qualification for euro and I think that this is their only chanse to go on Euro ever and in this really weak group everything is possible special when you have 3 wins at the start. So I think that Northen ireland will do anything to avoid lose here. So my prediction will be great defens by Northen Ireland and draw 0-0
Show morePlease enter your comment.
Your comment is added.