Lafferty returns for Northern Ireland against unchanged Wales

“They’ll be disappointed but they’ve done brilliantly in the tournament”.

Gareth Bale has been their top scorer and of the tournament with three goals in three games, two of them being free kick including a 30-yard stunner, Hal Robson-Kanu, Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor have one each.

‘That was disappointing for us that it wasn’t handled better.

Jones has seen his fellow countrymen impress on their first appearance at a major finals since 1958, as they are through to the knock out stages, by topping a group that included England.

O’Neill’s side had already defied the odds to line up in this all-British last 16 clash but were good value throughout the narrowest of 1-0 defeats, edging the play for extended periods without creating clear-cut chances.

Coleman’s men had struggled for goals during qualifying – scoring 11 in 10 matches – and this match demonstrated their occasional shortcomings against well-organised defences.

Soon afterwards Bale won a free-kick on the edge of the area and, though his shot was on target, Michael McGovern got down well to his left to save comfortably enough. Nominally at left-back he proved Gareth Bale’s toughest opponent and followed the forward diligently when he dropped into pockets of space.

Wales are sweating on the availability of captain Ashley Williams after he injured his shoulder during the 1-0 win over Northern Ireland.

Wales finally had their goal, a place in the last eight within their grasp, and “don’t take me home, please don’t take me home” was once again ringing out from the sea of red shirts.

“This time we had the good luck, Northern Ireland the bad luck”. The Welshman helped his side progress into the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win, with The Daily Mail giving him the highest rating out of any player on the pitch.

The Wales bench were generous with their applause for the Irish players as they trooped off the pitch and it continued afterwards when Coleman accepted that his team’s victory was “ugly”.

“We want to do our best within the rules and we expect a good old-fashioned British game”.

“We are trying to grab it with both hands and at the same time are trying to enjoy every moment of it”.

“We weren’t nervous [against Russia]”, said Coleman. I don’t think we got what we deserved… Unfortunately for Northern Ireland that will be the sentiment felt by the nation after Gareth McAuley’s own goal sent the Green and White Army packing from their first ever European Championships.

Wales are making the best of their first global tournament in 50 years.

Northern Ireland: McGovern; Hughes, Cathcart, McAuley, J. Evans; C. Evans, Davis, Norwood; Ward, Dallas, Washington.

The round of 16 match between Wales and Nothern Ireland was not particularly exciting but it was definitely a very engaging battle between the two rival nations.