A combination of stout defending and heroics from inspired goalkeeper Michael McGovern limited Germany to a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in Paris on Tuesday.
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Their victories drew the curtains on the group stages of Euro 2016and the tournament has so far witnessed a number of exciting and dramatic encounters with many unheralded nations like Northern Ireland and Iceland qualifying for the last 16 and much-favoured teams like Sweden, Romania, Austria and Russian Federation being shown the door.
“I’m not anxious about Thomas Muller not scoring”, Low told reporters after Tuesday’s match.
But Germany’s superiority was actually far more than the scoreline has suggested.
They were unable to book the ticket themselves prior to the Turkey game as Mario Gomez’s first-half finish earned Germany top spot in Group C, with Poland runners-up, though a string of saves from Michael McGovern proved crucial as Northern Ireland finished with a goal difference of zero, good enough to see them qualify in their first major tournament in 30 years.
McGovern made eight saves in total, including close-range efforts from Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze. We had six or seven good chances against Northern Ireland.
“They worked hard, they always work hard, ” Hummels noted.
“To win. Not to play three games and go home”.
On pitting their wits against Germany, boss O’Neill said: “I think the players will take an terrible lot from it”. We don’t have any players in our squad that have played any European football, so when they step up the experience of playing against the level of opponent we have today can only help us. We are very confident in these duels because we know our quality, and that is really something you can build the team on. “With Manuel behind we know we have someone who can save us if the ball goes beyond us”.
“It’s surreal”, O’Neill told the BBC.
Northern Ireland progresses too, even though it ended the group in third place with only three points following its earlier victory over Ukraine. What we saw tonight was a team that refused to be beaten by a big margin and did everything possible to stay in the game.
The various permutations to be played out in Wednesday’s concluding group matches mean Northern Ireland are likely to face hosts France in Lyon, with an outside chance of them returning to the Parc des Princes to take on Wales.
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The After Dark crew look at Joachim Low’s tactical changes, and if we still have yet to see the best from Germany. If he’d not had any chances I’d be more anxious, but he had three or four really good ones and that shows that we’re doing well.
