Northern Ireland make historic progress

Northern Ireland 0 Germany 1: Defeat on the night for Northern Ireland but it was one that ended with history being written as Michael O’Neill’s side advanced to the knockout stages of Euro 2016 thanks to the heroics of Michael McGovern and a Turkish win in Lens.

The Enniskillen man plucked five saves from the top drawer to help the North maintain a neutral goal difference in Group C; that left them within touching distance of the last 16 as Turkey and the Czech Republic kicked off an hour or so later.

A win for the Czechs would have left the North awaiting today’s results before learning of their fate, but McGovern’s astonishing exercise in damage limitation meant Turkey would have to win by four goals if they were to be the side to deprive them.