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International Friendlies

Nov 13, 2015 at 7.45pm UK

N. Ireland Northern Ireland
1-0
Latvia Latvia

Davis (55')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Michael O'Neill: 'We should celebrate Euros after memorable year'

By Christopher Dodd, Reporter | 14 November 2015

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill insists that he wants his players to celebrate reaching Euro 2016 following a memorable qualification campaign.

Northern Ireland coach Michael O'Neill has insisted that he wants his players to celebrate their achievements after qualifying for Euro 2016 and going eight games unbeaten.

O'Neill's charges produced a memorable qualification campaign to ensure that they progressed to their first finals of a major tournament since 1986, while a victory over Latvia on Friday saw them extended an impressive unbeaten run on the international stage.

The win against Latvia also gave the country's coach the chance to hit back at some critics who have highlighted his poor record in friendlies while in charge of Northern Ireland.

"I keep reading these really positive stats from people that go back to 1966, that we haven't won a friendly since then or something," said O'Neill, according to BBC Sport.

"Trust me, I wasn't manager back then. I think we should celebrate that we are going to the Euros, rather than dredge these things up."

O'Neill has been at the helm of the side since 2011.