FULL-TIME! Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany
That’s the last act. Gomez’s first half goal ensures the world champions top the group, with Poland in second after they beat Ukraine 1-0. Northern Ireland finish third. Three points could be enough for them to get through – but they will need Czech Republic to not win tonight or Belgium and Italy both to win tomorrow night. Or a result to go their way in Group F tomorrow afternoon.
The Ulstermen defended brilliantly and Michael McGovern had the game of his life in goal – sign him up! sign him up! sign him up! – though they never threatened Manuel Neuer. Germany looked excellent at times but at others were ponderous. They could have scored five or six on another day.
And on that note I am off. Thanks for reading. Until next time …
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90 min +3: Northern Ireland win a free-kick in their own half. The defenders push forward. It will be going straight into the box.
90 min +2: Muller puts too much on a cross and Magennis tries to find Lafferty with a punt forward. The striker kills a few more seconds by putting the ball out for a throw.
90 min: Ozil, on his right, sends a half volley wide. There will be three minutes added on.
90 min: Davis gives away another corner. Kroos’ delivery is headed out by Dallas, but Ozil recycles the ball for Germany.
88 min: Germany have had 75% possession but only one goal. The match is beginning to tick down now. And the immediate obvious question is whether three points and 0GD will be enough for Northern Ireland?
Permutations update from Kari Tulinius: “As an Icelander, I have a rooting interest in Germany scoring another goal, because that would mean a draw tomorrow would be enough for Iceland to go through. On the one hand, I like the 24-team format because it gives my national team a better shot at making the second round, on the other hand I don’t like how it makes me root against an underdog.”
86 min: Dallas blocks a Kimmich cross for a corner. Kroos, master passer extraordinaire, is unable to find a white shirt this time. Northern Ireland clear it, but only to Hector. The left-back shoots high and wide.
85 min: The final change for O’Neill: McGinn, scorer of the second against Ukraine, is on for Corry Evans. And that means no Will Grigg. Maybe in the last 16, right?
84 min: Kimmich feeds to Ozil and he sends a swerving shot from about 25 yards narrowly over.
81 min: McGovern denies Gomez once more with a fingertip stop at full stretch. What a game the unattached goalie is having.
Let’s talk permutations.
Simon McMahon writes: “I know I may be a bit behind with all the permutations and that, but I’m guessing that even if they lose, there’s still a chance that Northern Ireland could qualify. Not that I’m a bitter Scot or anything but it can’t be right that you can still qualify after losing two out of three group matches. Scotland were undefeated in their World Cup group in 1974 and still went out! As I said though, I’m not bitter.”
Yes, Simon, they will make it through as it stands if one other third-place team has a worse record than them. So, if Turkey beat Czech Republic tonight or Italy and Belgium both win in Group E tomorrow night and that’s before touching Group F, where any team can still progress.
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80 min: Kroos lays off to Hector on the left and he sends the worst cross of the evening out for a goal-kick.
(Hello to my commentating friends on ESPN in the US, who, I’m told, have just quoted an earlier entry verbatim.)
@alansmith90 Really, in the 73rd minute. "There's a live blog on The Guardian, their entry for the 72nd minute is [what you wrote]"
— Kyle Hill (@kylehill) June 21, 2016
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77 min: In the face of such stifling pressure, McAuley and Jonny Evans have been outstanding again today. The latter, in particular, has had a wonderful tournament.
75 min: Kimmich cuts in from the right and shoots on his weaker foot, the ball sailing high and wide. Germany’s final change sees Howedes replace Boateng, who is limping a little and immediately grabs an ice pack.
74 min: Gomez, sliding, tries to poke in a menacing Hector cross from the left but he misjudges it slightly and is a foot or so from connecting. Another let off for Northern Ireland, who, we can probably say with some safety, are not going to end up being embarrassed.
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72 min: Northern Ireland are three passes from reaching 100. Germany have had eight million.
71 min: Lafferty wins a free just inside Germany’s half after being dragged down from the sky by Muller and Schweinsteiger. What sort of delivery can Norwood send in? Oh, none. He takes it short to Dallas who then hits a crossfield ball to Cathcart. The move breaks down and Germany break.
70 min: Ward’s evening is also coming to an end, replaced by Josh Magennis. Still, the Green and White Army wait for Will Grigg to appear – Michael O’Neill has one substitution remaining.
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69 min: Lafferty is running as hard and fast as he can to chase down Hummels and Boateng but the Germany centre-halves are too quick for him. Khedira, who was OK but not as impactful as Kroos and Ozil, is replaced by Schweinsteiger.
67 min: Schweinsteiger is being readied for his entrance.
65 min: Kimmich, one of Germany’s best players this evening, crosses yet again from the right. Dallas turns it out for a corner. Kroos takes but the referee flags for a free out for some pulling and dragging by Gomez on McAuley.
64 min: Instead they opt for an intricate short move towards Muller. His shot is blocked bravely by Corry Evans, who is winded and requires a second to catch his breath.
63 min: Ward fouls Kimmich on the left side of the box. Ozil and Kroos are both jogging over, Hummels and Boateng are on their way up from defence.
62 min: Poland lead Ukraine 1-0 in Marseille.
61 min: Kimmich concedes a corner. Norwood’s delivery is towards Jonny Evans. His header, after climbing above Gomez, is deflected out for another corner on the opposite side. Norwood takes it again but Germany clear through Kimmich. It’s all come full circle there.
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60 min: Lafferty is on for Washington, who completed a thankless task with no complaints but could not leave much of a mark on the game.
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59 min: Khedira is allowed to roam forward from halfway without enough pressure. He has a pot shot from 25 yards, McGovern saves and Gomez heads the rebound wide. That is bad miss from the Germany striker, who should have put the game to bed.
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57 min: Davis breaks through from midfield and looks to have a clear path to goal until his path is blocked by, of all people, Ozil. There are spaces opening up all over the pitch, which is probably a bad thing for Northern Ireland, who could get caught on the counter if they leave gaps when attacking.
55 min: Gotze comes off – he was a lot better today – to be replaced by the former Chelsea player, Schurrle.
54 min: Ward closes down Hummels in a dangerous position but Washington cannot gather the rebound and Germany sniff out any danger. Schurrle is getting ready to enter for the world champions.
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51 min: McGovern is having the game of his life. Gotze gets in past Hughes but his shot is met by the goalkeeper again, who makes himself big and palms the shot away with his right. And to think Hamilton released him last month. He needs a club, scouts, if you’re watching.
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50 min: In the first half, according to BBC, Kroos completed 54 passes. Northern Ireland completed 58.
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49 min: Is anybody sick of the Will Grigg chant yet? It would be good if he actually appeared in this tournament.
47 min: Germany immediately resume their domination and green shirts have already dropped deep. Kimmich strikes a feisty cross from the right that McGovern does very well to cling on to.
Restarted!
46 min: Germany get us going again. Can Northern Ireland avoid a thumping?
Northern Ireland have been second best in every department and are lucky to be only 1-0 behind. Germany have been excellent – a big improvement on the draw with Poland last Thursday. Back in a moment, but why not scroll through our ratings of every single player’s performance so far at the tournament. Payet, Walker and Candreva have impressed – but who has been judged harshly?
Half-time! Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany
45 min: Ouch! A Hector clearance is deflected off Ward and straight into the linesman’s bits. He is winded and the referee blows for half-time with no time added on.
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44 min: Boateng tries a Rooney-like Hollywood pass for Gotze but McAuley is alert to it and heads the ball back to McGovern.
43 min: Ward and Dallas have swapped sides, I assume because the latter is better defensively and Germany have been having more success down the left wing that he now occupies.
41 min: Northern Ireland win a corner off Kimmich. This is the only way you can see them scoring. McAuley and Cathcart and Evans are up. Norwood sends it in … but it is collected by Neuer.
40 min: This should have been 2-0. Ozil, who has been superb, finds Gomez in the POMO, but the striker scuffs his attempt with only McGovern to bear.
38 min: Germany could easily be out of sight by now. They appear to be playing a different game to their opponents. Theirs is a dominance as thorough as Spain v Turkey and Belgium v Republic of Ireland. Still, it’s only 1-0 and Northern Ireland will be eager to keep it that way for as long as possible.
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35 min: Kroos takes and after a ricochet the ball arrives at the feet of Khedira, but his shot is blocked by the head of McAuley.
34 min: Ozil crosses from the left, McAuley hooks desperately away. From the throw-in the ball is worked inwards by Gotze, he squares for Muller, who sidefoots first-time off the bar. A corner to follow …
33 min: Northern Ireland, as it stands, will need to avoid being thumped here – and then hope other results go in their favour. Honestly, on this evidence, they are unlikely to find a way past Neuer.
GOAL! Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany (Gomez)
30 min: It had been coming. Ozil sends another delicious pass forward. Gomez cleverly pokes it on to Muller. He runs out of space to shoot, pulls the ball back to Gomez, who slots into the gaping net for his first international goal since the last European Championship. So simple, so effective from the world champions. And above all so unselfish from Muller to cut back – he could have shot even with the angle closing.
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29 min: ‘Oles’ come from the Northern Ireland supporters as McAuley dribbles out from defence and beats two white shirts before, sensibly, passing.
27 min: Muller hits a post! Kimmich sends a cross in from the right and the Bayern attacker dives towards the ball and heads off the upright. McGovern may have had the corner of his goal blocked and an offside flag is up too, though Muller was well on.
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26 min: Ward robs Gotze and charges forward. Around 30 yards from goal, with Washington making a curving run off Boateng, the Forest midfielder chooses to shoot. It’s bread and butter for Neuer.
25 min: The worry for Northern Ireland must be how long they can keep chasing Germany with the same intensity. It is energy sapping just watching them running about without getting a touch of the ball.
23 min: Muller – so close. Kimmich’s cross is chested down by Gomez – or as Gerry Armstrong on BBC seems intent on calling him, Gotze – and Muller arrives to shoot across goal and a couple of inches wide. This time McGovern looked beaten.
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22 min: Washington has been fed twice so far but has generally been out of the TV shot. A view from the ground explains why:
Washington might have to invest in some binoculars to see his teammates, who are at least 40 yards away from him most of the time.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) June 21, 2016
21 min: Davis sets Washington away down the left but he cannot get a cross away.
19 min: After weathering that storm, Northern Ireland appear to have gained some – albeit minor – foothold in the game again. They have their goalkeeper to thank for still being on level terms and, you would assume, a lot more defending is to come.
18 min: It remains 0-0 in Poland’s game with Ukraine. Join Gerard Meagher for the updates from that one here – but in a separate tab, obviously. Please don’t go.
16 min: Muller is caught on the achilles by Evans. It’s a foul, nothing more, wide on the right. The free-kick is taken short and Germany resume their pass-pass-pass style.
15 min: McAuley sends a deep free-kick towards the left flank, where Jonny Evans and Muller rise. The latter wins the aerial duel but can only head the ball out for a throw-in.
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12 min: McGovern saves again – for a fourth time in four minutes – using his feet to deny Gotze. Kimmich tries to be clever with a chipped rebound but he mishits. Northern Ireland breath again fro a moment.
10 min: Kroos, the tournament’s pass master, floats a free-kick goalwards. Hummels rises to try and head goalwards but McGovern punches away. Then Germany come straight back on the attack, where Ozil is denied by the goalkeeper after a long pass from Boateng and Cathcart stop any chance of a rebound by heading out for a corner. Kroos’ take is cleared.
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8 min: This is a big, big chance. Muller, played in by an amazing, silky flicked Ozil pass is denied by a fantastic save from McGovern, who is quick off his line to smother the Bayern attacker. It also allows Northern Ireland to break. Washington is in a good position to shoot but he sees Davis in the middle. He is caught between a rock and a hard place and fails to produce neither a shot to threaten Neuer nor a cross.
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7 min: Khedira, for a second time, tries to split the Northern Ireland defence with a through ball but this is also too long. McGovern will trot over to pick up the ball before taking his goal-kick.
6 min: … then Germany work it down the left where Ward is turned by Hector. The move breaks down when a mid-range Kroos shot is blocked.
5 min: As you would expect, the Ulstermen are creating a ferocious racket – even if they look to be outnumbered by Germany fans. Kimmich sends in a cross from the right, it’s too high for Gomez and Gotze.
4 min: A throw-in on the left from Jonny Evans is worked back to McAuley who hoofs forward. Neuer comes off his line to collect. Then Khedira shanks a diagonal pass out for a goal-kick, earning loud cheers from the Northern Ireland fans behind McGovern’s goal.
2 min: It has been a bitty start – with Washington knocking over Kroos in the Germany area after a long ball from McAuley – but Northern Ireland appear to be committing men forward early on.
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1 min: Within 35 seconds, Manuel Neuer is off his line, shielding the ball out for a throw-in near the corner.
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Peep!
1 min: Northern Ireland kick-off, playing from left to right as we watch it.
Rory McIlroy is in the house – wearing a George Best t-shirt and singing Green and White Army once the anthems are out of the way. Northern Ireland will play in their green and blue strip with white shorts and green socks. Germany are in their white kit with black shorts and socks.
The teams are in the tunnel. But there is just enough time for a message from notorious Corrie badman Jim McDonald
GREAT GOOD LUCK TO OUR WEE COUNTRY!! pic.twitter.com/ye1t66B7vP
— Charlie Lawson (@charlie_lawson1) June 21, 2016
This is impressive (but I hope he doesn’t mind me saying also useless) information from Andrew Benton: Alan, did you know....
In addition to Dallas and Washingon there are residential areas/towns by the name of:
- Davis in Califormia and Oklahoma
- Mcgovern in Pennsylvania
- Cathcart in Washington
- Evans in Georgia and Colorado
- Ward in Arkansas, Colorado and South Carolina
- Norwood in many states and
- Hughestown in Pennsylvania
But not McAuley, apparently.
Can there ever have been another national team in history with a more US-place name centred squad?
Jonas Hector starts for Germany. Here is a nice profile on the so-called Philipp Lahm replacement that is being linked with Liverpool.
Quelle surprise: listen to what they are playing pre-match at Princes’ Park
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na #WillGriggsOnFire #NIR #GER #EURO2016 #GawA pic.twitter.com/FLvszWJ6k6
— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) June 21, 2016
An email from Andy Gordon: “One of my favourite non-English words is vorfreude, a German word roughly meaning enjoying the anticipation of an event instead of the event itself. As a Norn Iron fan, this may be the best way to approach the game, although the local bars are doing great business for 4.20pm on a Tuesday, providing another method.”
Aaron Hughes starts again for Northern Ireland at right back. Five years ago he retired from international football because he didn’t believe the team were good enough to reach a major tournament. He was coaxed back and how handsomely it has all paid off.
The teams!
Northern Ireland (4-5-1): McGovern; Hughes, McAuley, Cathcart, J Evans; Ward, C Evans, Davis, Norwood, Dallas; Washington.
Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Hector; Khedira, Kroos; Ozil, Muller, Gotze; Gomez.
Referee: C Turpin (Fr).
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Hello. Michael O’Neill was yesterday retelling the story of how he paid his own way to watch Germany play a game at the Euros four years ago – easyJet flights, trouble at border control – and how he ended up relying upon Germany fans to give him a lift (after they Googled him). Suffice to say if fans of the world champions do not know him by now, they will certainly remember the name later this evening.
Northern Ireland, so poor in their opener against Poland, were brilliant against Ukraine and are now on course to progressing into the last 16. Even if they lose today, results elsewhere may be enough to see them advance. And what a story that would be for a team representing a country with a population of 1.8m. That’s not to mean today is a free hit – goal difference could well be vital. But will we see a defensive performance from start to finish? Or will O’Neill have his players attack and exploit Germany’s questionable (if not yet fully tested) back line?
Jogi Löw’s world champions have not set the continent alight in their opening two games; doing enough to beat Ukraine and stuttering in a 0-0 draw with Poland, who play Ukraine at the same time this evening. The former captain Michael Ballack has said the side lacks leaders – prompting Sami Khedira to claim the ex-Chelsea player’s comments were “comedy” and “ridiculous”. They should really have too much for Northern Ireland here, but it will be fascinating to see if creaks appear.
Team news is to follow imminently. Kick-off is 6pm in Paris and Berlin, and 5pm in Belfast.
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