Euro 2016: Northern Ireland v Germany live blog as Michael O’Neill’s side trail Germany 1-0 at half-time
Victory would guarantee a place in knock-out stages while draw may be enough to take them through
- NORTHERN IRELAND face Germany in Paris knowing a place in the knock-out stages at Euro 2016 is in their own hands.
- Victory over the world champions would guarantee Michael O'Neill's side a place in the last 16 in France.
- A draw should be enough to take country through as a third placed team but defeat would leave Irish hopes hanging in the balance.
- Mario Gomez strike midway through the first half gives Germany the lead going into the break
6.53: Ireland have got Michael McGovern to thank for that narrow defeat. The keeper made eight or nine terrific saves to prevent a hammering and his heroics could mean Ireland qualify on goal difference. Tekka boo son!
6.51: So Northern Ireland will have to wait to see whether they'll qualify for the last 16. They finish third on three points with a zero goal difference. But that could well be enough to see them qualify as one of the four best third place teams.
FULL TIME: UKRAINE 0 POLAND 1 Poland claim second spot behind Germany.
FULL TIME: N.IRELAND 0 GERMANY 1
6.48: The Irish fans have not stopped singing. They've been absolutely magnificent this afternoon. Such a shame Will Grigg isn't going to get on
6.46: Nope. So it's not just England that are hopeless at corners. We're into three added minutes
6.45: Stone the crows Toni Kroos has won a corner with a minute to go! Surely they won't?
6.41: The industrious McGinn replaces Evans with five minutes to go. Germany look like they've shot their bolt. I do believe Norn Iron are going to do this. What a rearguard action it's been.
6.37: SAVE! McGovern to the rescue again! Gomez rises at the back stick and fairly batters a downward header, forcing the keeper into a plunging save to his left. Awesome stuff from the Irish stopper who's been man of the match by a country mile. Can he hold firm for another 8 minutes?
6.32: FACT. Andre Schurrle is Darren Fletcher with a beard.
6.29: Khedira is replaced by Schweinsteiger while Magennis comes on for Ward who's run his socks off. Not literally. That would be a hell of a trick. 15 minutes for Ireland to hold out!
6.26: This is a much improved second half performance from Ireland. They've managed to stem the flow of constant German attacks and are looking well organised and much more solid
6.18: UKRAINE 0 POLAND 1. Not that it changes anything for Ireland but Poland go level on points with Germany in second place
6.16: SAVE! It's another stunning stop by McGovern who plunges low to his left to beat out a Khedira spanker before Gomez tamely heads the rebound wide. Ireland make a switch with Kyle Lafferty coming on uptop for Washington.
6.14: Oh brilliant run from Davis who batters his way into the German box before Boateng halts him with a terrific tackle. Tell you what, Davis was through on goal there if the defender hadn't snaffled it off him
6.10: MISS! And then Gotze smehow screws the ball wide from seven yards out. Can someone check this is Germany in the white shirts? Their finishing has been absolutely atrocious. Gotze is then immediately hooked and replaced by by Schurrle
6.09: SAVE! Wowzers. McGovern pulls off another top drawer stop, spreading himself brilliantly to block a close range Gotze rasper. The Irish keeper's having the game of his life to keep Ireland in this
6.05: Meanwhile the Will Gregg chant continues to ring around the stadium as the Irish fans bounce in sheer delight. Surely Michael O'Neill's got to put him on. Just for the craic, like.
6.03: Don't know if you heard it but I loved BBC pundit Jens Lehmann's reply when asked who Germany would like to face in the next round. "So long as we win the group, we don't care." Oh to be that confident.
6.01: PEEEP! Germany get us underway again. Remember, if Norn Iron avoid a hammering they'll still probably qualify as one of the best third placed teams. They don't want to concede anything above three
5.58: By the way, while Joachim Low is enjoying his half time finger buffet, I can confirm that in the other Group C game it’s UKRAINE 0 POLAND 0 at the break.
5.47: Michael O'Neill has got a difficult decision to make at half time. Does he keep things as they are and hope to escape with a narrow defeat that still might see them through or does he go in search of an equaliser and risk an absolute, if you'll pardon the pun, mullering.
5.46: HALF TIME: N.IRELAND 0 GERMANY 1
5.45: Oh how is this not 2-0? I’ll tell you. Ozil does brilliantly, charging into the box before squaring to Gomez for a simple tap in. But somehow the German striker scuffs his shot and it trundles into the grateful arms of McGovern. With three minutes to half time, Germany should be out of sight but incredibly, Ireland are still in this.
5.36: I’m not a violent man but Thomas Muller has got the sort of face you’d only stop slapping if it wasn’t your turn any more.
5.34: BAR CLANG! It's a neat cutback that this time Muller sidefoots first time against the bar. I'm not joking, Germany have created enough chances to be 5-0 up. Remind you of anyone?
5.33: Don't panic just yet. This scoreline still should be enough to see Norn Iron qualify as one of the third placed teams. They don't want to be conceding any more goals though. But at the moment. it's one way traffic
5.30: GOOOAAAALLLL!!! N.IRELAND 0 GERMANY 1. Fair to say, it had been coming. Muller with his back to goal, feeds Gomez who calmly sidefoots home with just a hint of a deflection off an Irish foot.
5.28: POST CLANG!! Hapless Muller's at it again! This time he stoops low to crash a header against the outside of the post. The lanky German's having a mare of Jack Wilshere proportions!
5.26: This is better from Norn Iron as Ward advances on goal and unleashes a swerving dipper that young Martin Clunes in the German goal snaffles with minimal fuss.
5.21: CHANCE! Gomez does a Chris Smalling and effortlessly chests the ball into the path of Muller who shanks his shot horribly wide. He simply has to hit the target from there. Woeful finishing that made England's efforts last night look absolutely deadly
5.20: Ozil now unleashes a wild lash when well placed inside the box only to see his effort balloon miles over. Missit Ozil.
5.17: You know last night's England game was like an attack v defence training session? Well this game's exactly the same. Except Germany look like they actually have a plan
5.14: I've got a feeling McGovern is going to need to have the game of his life if Ireland are to get anything out of this. So far, the keeper is doing just that!
5.11: Ireland are living dangerously as Ozil's close range effort is blocked heroically by McGovern. Seconds later the keeper is at it again, saving brilliantly from Gotze. McGovern has made four top class saves in the opening 12 minutes! Top class keeping
5.09: From that brilliant block, Ireland counter as Steven Davis cuts inside the box but a top class covering tackle, snookers him
5.08: SAVE! Thomas Muller is clean through on goal but smashes his shot at keeper McGovern who'd spread himself brilliantly. What a let off. But Muller's stinking run continues!
5.06: Anyone else think the BBC should introduce a 'Joachim Low cam' available on the red button? In smellovision
5.03: It's a bright positive start from Ireland, showing no sign of nerves. Meanwhile on the bench, Joachim Low has managed to keep his hands out of his pants for a full three minutes.
5.00: PEEEEP! Norn Iron get us underway in their home green kit, kicking left to right..
4.56: Here come the teams, striding out into a cauldron of noise and colour! Truly spectacular scenes. Right, get behind the sofa, here comes the German national anthem
4.53: I’m actually relieved that ITV aren’t showing this game. Should Ireland score, I don’t think I could stomach the sound of Iain Dowie in full sex cry again.
4.51: FACT! BBC pundit Jens Lehmann is the dead spit of my lesbian auntie
4.38: Ah, but here’s a stat to warm Irish hearts. Northern Ireland have lost only one of their last 14 internationals (W7, D6). Better still, Thomas Muller hasn't scored or assisted a single goal in seven games at the Euros. He's had just one shot on target in 180 minutes so far at Euro 2016. Quick, someone check he’s not actually English!
4.35: For Northern Ireland, a draw is likely to be enough to ensure progress to the last 16. But here’s a word of warning. They’ve won only twice in 14 meetings with Germany (D4, L8).
4.30: Given Rory's current form, no surprise that in this photo he appears to have missed the green again
4.21: With Ukraine taking on Poland at the same time this afternoon, there are so many possible permutations as to who might qualify for the knockout stages. But here’s the only one you really need to know. If Northern Ireland beat Germany this afternoon, THE REST OF EUROPE IS HAVING A PARTY FOR THE NEXT WEEK!! C'MON NORN IRON!!
4.15: For Germany, Mario Gomez is recalled to start upfront with Joshua Kimmel…Germany: Neuer, Hector, Hummels, Khedira, Özil, Müller, Boateng, Kroos, Götze, Kimmich, Gomez
4.13: Let’s crack on with the team news. As expected, Northern Ireland are unchanged from the side that spanked Ukraine…..Northern Ireland: McGovern; Hughes, Cathcart, McAuley, J.Evans; C. Evans, Davis, Norwood; Ward, Dallas, Washington
4.12: Afternoon all! Welcome along to live coverage of Northern Ireland’s final game in Group C – and it’s an absolute belter as Michael O’Neill’s boys take on Germany.
3.57: A German police officer wishes a Northern Ireland fan good luck on the way to the stadium
3.53: Great scenes on the way to the Parc Des Princes as fans of both sides mingle
3.48: Northern Ireland have brought plenty of colour to Euro 2016 - but some of the outfits leave a lot to be desried!
