Schurrle: ‘Long-ball’ Ireland didn’t deserve win

“I’m happy it went to one of our players and it’s a bonus that we scored from it”.

“I’m not superstitious at all in terms of anything I do on matchday but I didn’t want to get head of myself”.

Albion defender Gareth McAuley has described qualification for Euro 2016 with Northern Ireland as “probably the pinnacle” of his career.

Two goals from skipper Steven Davis and one from John Magennis sealed the victory and left coach Michael O’Neill’s men unbeaten after nine matches at the top of Group F. Their final game is against Finland in Helsinki Sunday.

Northern Ireland won without the suspended Kyle Lafferty, Chris Baird and Conor McLaughlin plus the injured Jonny Evans.

The 27-year-old Bayern Munich striker goes into Sunday night’s final Group D qualifier at the Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw having scored a staggering 14 goals in his last four and a half games for club and country. “Normally we score a lot of goals but there are the occasional matches and there have been a few recently – where we make very little out of a lot chances”, said Loew.

“You can see we’re a well organised side, everyone knows their roles and that’s testament to the work that he’s done, and I’m delighted for him and all the staff as well”.

“To get put on the map again, it’s such a big tournament and it’s been that many years since we’ve been there”.

Darren Randolph, handed just his third senior cap for Ireland as a 43rd-minute replacement for Given, admitted he feared the worst as Thomas Muller squared up to deliver a body blow to their Euro 2016 hopes.

“But despite the defeat against Ireland we are on the top of the table and everything lies in our own hands”. “Unfortunately we have still a long way to go yet but it was great to beat the Germans, the world champions, considering the things we had to overcome”, O’Neill said. There are managers who mange for years and maybe never get beyond the level they’re at. And it also means that they are still in with a shot of automatic qualification. We have confidence and belief which comes from winning games.