Euro 2016 Report: Northern Ireland 0 - 1 Germany

From Macdara Ferris in the Parc des Princes

A battling defensive performance was not enough for Northern Ireland to earn a point against Germany in the Parc des Princes in Paris on Tuesday night, but with help from Turkey it proved enough for the North ough to qualify for the next phase of Euro 2016.

Mario Gomez’s goal consigned Michael O’Neill’s men to a 1-0 defeat to the world champions. However they can be very much proud of the effort they displayed in front of their raucous support in the Parisian venue.

‘Norn Iron’ were thankful for an outstanding performance from their goalkeeper Michal McGovern who thwarted the high quality German attack throughout the game, as their opponents had 71% of the play in the 90 minutes.

The only surprising thing about the first half, and indeed the game as a whole, was that Germany could only score one goal from their 26 attempts on target. Germany took the game to the North in the opening half, hitting the woodwork twice and forcing a trio of brave saves from Michael McGovern that kept Northern Ireland in the game.

Michael O’Neill stuck with the team that earned their historic win over Ukraine in Lyon last week but they found it difficult to maintain possession in the opening period, particularly as Germany pressed and held the ball for two thirds of the half.

Joachim Low had deployed Mario Gotze as a false nine in the 0-0 stalemate against Poland in the Stade de France in their last outing. Against the North, though, he moved Gotze back into midfield bringing Mario Gomez in up front. The Besiktas striker caused Gareth McAuley and Craig Cathcart all sorts of difficulty throughout the game.

His physical presence, combined with the perceptive running of Thomas Muller and the pin point passing of Mesut Ozil, should have seen Germany put the game beyond Northern Ireland and yet the North stayed in the contest right till the end.

In the opening quarter an hour alone, McGovern denied Germany on three occasions. A great German move saw a gorgeous flick by Ozil fall into the path of the on running Muller only for McGovern to block. He then saved from Gotze and Ozil in quick succession, with McGovern taking one of the shots in a particularly painful body position.

The Northern Ireland fans behind McGovern’s goal did their best to raise the spirits of the team and generated a cracking atmosphere in the Parc des Princes Stadium, despite their team being under almost constant pressure.

Michael O’Neill’s men did get one sight of goal in the first half with Manuel Neuer getting his bright red kit dirty saving Jamie Ward’s shot after the Nottingham Forest player robbed Gotze in the middle of park.

The Northern resistance lasted until just before the half hour mark. Moments before Muller's diving header off Joshua Kimmich's cross hit the post, but there was no real let off as Gomez put ‘Die Mannschaft’ 1-0 up.

Ozil's through ball was sent on by Gomez to Thomas Muller. He drew the Northern Ireland defence and with his path to goal blocked he showed great presence of mind to tap the ball backwards to Gomez. Gareth McAuley got a touch to the shot but couldn't keep it out.

Muller hit the post soon after and the Hamilton Academical club ‘keeper McGovern was required to save from Gomez again just before the half time whistle.

It was more of the same early in the second half with McGovern having to rescue the North. He blocked Gotze’s shot with a strong right hand after a beautiful floated ball over the top of the Northern Ireland defence from Kimmich.

On the hour mark Michael O’Neill brought on Karl Lafferty in place of Conor Washington who, through no real fault of his own, hadn’t seen much of the ball. Northern Ireland did win two corners soon after to give them some respite from the German pressure.

It was a pity the team on the pitch couldn’t match the strong showing of their supporters in the stands but it was so difficult against a German side packed with players from some of the best clubs in the world.

It was the man from Enniskillen to the rescue again in the closing ten minutes as McGovern twice denied Gomez. First he saved diving full length to his left, pushing Gomez’s header around the post off yet another fine delivery from right back Kimmich and then he saved at his feet.

The victory was enough to see Germany top the Group C table, finishing above Poland on goal difference as the World Champions had beaten Ukraine 2-0 compared with the Polish 1-0 win played at the same time as this match in Paris.

Keeping Germany to just one goal was vital for the North’s chances of progressing to the next phase but they had a nervous wait for qualification confirmation. That came after the conclusion of the late game with Turkey's win over the Czech Republic helping Northern Ireland progress to the knock out stages of Euro 2016.

Northern Ireland: Michael McGovern; Aaron Hughes, Gareth McAuley, Craig Cathcart, Jonny Evans; Jamie Ward (Josh Magennis 70), Corry Evans (Niall McGinn 84), Stephen Davis, Oliver Norwood, Stuart Dallas; Conor Washington (Kyle Lafferty 59).

Subs not used: Roy Carroll (gk), Alan Mannus (gk), Conor McLaughlin, Shane Ferguson, Chris Baird, Will Grigg, Paddy McNair, Luke McCullough, Lee Hodson.

Booked: None.

Germany: Manuel Neuer ©; Joshua Kimmich, Jerome Boateng (Benedikt Howedes 76), Mats Hummels, Jonas Hector; Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira (Bastein Schweinsteiger 69); Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze (Andre Schurrle 55); Mario Gomez.

Subs not used: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (gk), Bernd Leno (gk), Emre Can, Shkodran Mustafi, Julian Draxler, Antonio Rudiger, Leroy Sané, Julian Weigl, Lukas Podolski.

Yellow Cards: None.

Referee: Clement Turpin (France).

Attendance: 44,125.

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Michael McGovern (Northern Ireland).

Extratime.ie caught up with a number of the Northern Ireland players after the game and you can read the reaction of captain Stephen Davis here and goalkeeper Michael McGovern here.