Evans stars as Northern Ireland claim crucial win

Ward was recalled to the Northern Ireland team in one of five changes made by manager Michael O’Neill for Thursday’s crucial 2-0 win over Ukraine. As a fan I am absolutely delighted for every player.

“We have lost one game in 13, so it’s going to be an exciting match and a massive one for us”.

A paramedic who treated Mr Rainey said: “We tried but we could not”.

O’Neill’s side produced the ideal reaction to losing their Euro 2016 opener 1-0 to Poland last Sunday.

After the Poland game, many people were disappointed with the performance that the team gave as it was a game that many people thought they could get something from.

“We were defending a lot of balls, but we felt strong, we felt confident, and I felt hopefully we’d get a chance and I’d be on the end of it. The most pleasing thing is that was a Northern Ireland performance out there”.

O’Neill gambled by switching formation, and changing half of his starting line-up from the Poland defeat, to neutralise the threat of Ukraine’s wingers Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill was encouraged to pick Conor Washington over Kyle Lafferty in an attempt to replicate the influence Mario Gotze had in Germany’s victory over Ukraine.

“After the frustrations of the Poland game, where we knew we could play a lot better in terms of stamping our authority, to play as we did against Ukraine is fantastic”, he said.

“We can be happy with the nil-nil”, Boateng said, but he criticised his side’s lack of attacking punch.

Northern Ireland grew in confidence through the first half and with McAuley’s goal registered its first goal in an worldwide competition since the 1986 World Cup.

It is only two years since Germany secured their fourth World Cup title, producing a 7-1 semi-final demolition of hosts Brazil en route to glory, and Joachim Low’s team are unbeaten in their two contests in France having taken four points from Ukraine and Poland. It’s going to be a tough, tough game, but football is a romantic game and sometimes the underdogs come through.

“We created few chances”.

“It’s a pity that we didn’t get the goal, but that’s football and it’s not a bad result for us”. Oliver Norwood finely floated a free kick into the Ukrainian box which Gareth McAuley powerfully headed home to score his country’s first goal at a major global finals since Colin Clarke scored against Spain at the 1986 World Cup and become the second oldest player to ever score at a European Championship finals.

Germany’s players had the day off Saturday and Loew said it was vital for their conditioning over a long tournament.