Euro 2016: Germany wins group ahead of Poland

“Watford_defender_Craig_Cathcart_features_in_Northern_Ireland_s_defeat_to_Germany/” class=”local_link” >after losing 1-0 to world champions Germany this afternoon, but they are now certain of progressing from Group C on goal difference after Turkey beat the Czech Republic 2-0 tonight.

Ukraine were the only side to fail to score and the only side without a point, the 2-0 defeat by Northern Ireland ultimately proving enough for Michael O’Neill’s side to progress.

On the half hour, Germany finally broke the deadlock when Mueller burst into the area, after being played through by Ozil, and played the ball back for Gomez, who coolly slotted the ball home albeit via a deflection off defender Gareth McAuley.

The Group C win in Marseille propelled Poland further than they have ever gone in a European Championship and they will meet Switzerland in the last-16.

The midfielder scored nine minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute, combining with Arkadiusz Milik before curling a shot past keeper Andriy Pyatov for his 17th global goal.

Northern Ireland will play either Group B winners Wales or Group A winners France in the round of 16.

“We’re just pleased that everyone can come back again and have a party at the weekend”.

“There were improvements in our play, but of course we aren’t 100 percent happy”.

“I wanted to show I’m still hungry, I still want to play and I’ve still got a goal in me”.

“It was a phenomenal performance and up there probably with the great goalkeeping performances we’ve had in the past from the likes of Pat Jennings, Tommy Wright, Maik Taylor”. Michael McGovern had a fantastic night and we have the opportunity now to play in the knockout stages. “I didn’t want to take that risk”.

“Germany had a slow start but they were excellent today, we could not get out”. “When you read Germany’s team sheet you see Bayern Munich and Real Madrid”.

The result sees Spain advance as group runner up and will face Italy in the last 16.

Germany missed a series of clear chances during its narrow win over Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

Polish fans, who comfortably outnumbered Ukrainian supporters in the 67,000-capacity Stade Velodrome, celebrated by lighting at least two flares, an action likely to bring a fine of at least 1,000 euros (US$ 1,130) for Poland from UEFA. “We’ve given ourselves a chance now with this result”. The base has been fantastic, we couldn’t have chosen anywhere better than where we are.

The woodwork foiled Muller not once but twice, before McGovern – without a club after being released by Scottish club Hamilton – got the better of the golden boot victor from the 2010 World Cup.

“If we had to lose, that was the best defeat we could have had”, O’Neill said. “Playing at this level is something I relish”.

Northern Ireland counterpart O’Neill said: “The players gave him a round of applause when he came in the dressing room and, when that happens, you don’t really need the manager to say any more”. We had six or seven good chances against Northern Ireland.