“Wales is slightly more tricky in that we would have to play on the Saturday and we’d have to get back to Paris, so that would be, preparation-wise, a little bit more hard”.
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He said: “I think it’s a fantastic achievement and everyone should be proud of it. Before the tournament began we said we wanted to get out of the group and that we weren’t here to just make up the numbers”. We earned a right to be in the round of 16.
“There were improvements in our play, but of course we aren’t 100 percent happy”.
“We have to hope we produce an upset in a cup-tie format”.
Northern Ireland looks most likely to score from a set-piece, but Low’s side were well drilled with Manuel Neuer and Mats Hummels commanding their penalty area on high deliveries to frustrate O’Neill’s men.
From his vantage point on the bench during the first half, the Norwich City striker marvelled at Germany’s array of attacking talent and felt one Premier League player stood out.
Veteran defender Gareth McAuley has expressed his pride at seeing Northern Ireland progress to the last 16 of Euro 2016 on Tuesday night.
“I believe there’s a number of clubs in Scotland that have interest in him”, said O’Neill.
Jennings is Northern Ireland’s record appearance holder following a 22-year worldwide career and is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.
McGovern was also singled out by his manager, Michael O’Neill, who suggested Premier League clubs should be showing an interest in the 31-year-old. And after Muller nodded Joshua Kimmich’s cross against the post, it took just two more minutes before McGovern was finally beaten. All these experts (said we would get) no points, wouldn’t get out of the group.
“It has been a non-stop party for the Northern Ireland fans, whatever the results”, former skipper Neil Lennon said.
The Northern Irish could well have lost heavily – and with it the chance of qualification – and Mueller acknowledged Germany will need to be more clinical in future rounds.
Germany had 71% possession and 24 efforts on goal. “But to be in the last 16 is beyond all expectations, even mine”.
Wednesday’s results also mean that Croatia, Slovakia and Hungary are all guaranteed to reach the knockout stages.
The Watford centre-half’s nation are now bottom of Group F ahead of their 5pm meeting with Iceland in Paris, but with three points separating Austria from leaders Portugal several permutations remain possible.
Turkey finished third, after beating the Czech Republic 2-0 thanks to goals from Burak Yilmaz and Ozan Tufan.
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Early on, young Ajax talent Milik had a fierce shot parried by Ukraine keeper Andriy Pyatov, before only an uncharacteristic miss from Robert Lewandowski kept the scores level.
