Germany tops group as Northern Ireland waits
Northern Ireland will wait to see if its three-point return is enough to continue its UEFA Euro 2016 adventure after losing 1-0 to Germany.
Mario Gomez's goal wrapped up top spot for Germany in Group C as a 1-0 win at Parc des Princes left Northern Ireland waiting to find out its own fate at UEFA Euro 2016.
Having failed to impress in a bore draw against Poland last time out, Joachim Low's side again struggled to hit top gear despite dominating against one of the tournament's biggest underdogs in Paris.
Michael O'Neill's plan to stifle the world champion always looked likely to fail, with goalkeeper Michael McGovern – who was impressive throughout – called into action several times before his defences were breached.
Gomez marked his first start in France with a close-range 29th-minute finish, while Thomas Muller hit the post and crossbar among a host of other Germany chances before the interval.
Although Northern Ireland needed a goal to claim the point it clearly came for, it proved close to impossible for it to relieve the constant pressure.
Germany could not add to its advantage in a second half that was as one-sided as the first, but Northern Ireland will now await other results to see if its three-point return is enough to qualify as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
O'Neill's men – unchanged from the historic 2-0 win over Ukraine – tried to present a compact and united front from the outset, positioning a wall of green between Germany and McGovern's goal.
It was a barrier Germany found all too easy to overcome, though, and McGovern had to be alert to deny Muller and Mesut Ozil in quick succession early on.
The post came to Northern Ireland's rescue in the 27th minute when Muller's diving header threatened to break the deadlock.
But the pressure finally told just before the half-hour mark, Muller drawing McGovern's attention before laying it back for Gomez to find the net via a deflection.
Muller hit the woodwork again five minutes later as Germany looked to inflict further damage before the break.
The pattern continued in the second half, McGovern saving from Mario Gotze before the FIFA World Cup final goalscorer slid wide from inside the six-yard box.
O'Neill's side was not entirely restricted to defensive duties, though a rare foray forward led by Steven Davis came to an end on the edge of the opposition penalty area and without Manuel Neuer being troubled.
Germany kept creating openings and Sami Khedira was next to join in the shooting practice and find McGovern in fine form, the Hamilton Academical goalkeeper – whose contract with the Scottish Professional Football League club is set to expire – diving low to his right to keep the deficit to one.
If McGovern's display had not already alerted clubs to his potential availability, his stunning 82nd-minute save from Gomez may have done the trick as the 31-year-old brilliantly tipped the Fiorentina forward's header wide.
McGovern and his Northern Ireland team-mates will only hope it is not the last chance they have to make their mark on the tournament.
