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It would be easy to say it was worth the wait. And,
yes, it certainly was.
But one of the outcomes of the Northern Ireland
team’s participation at their first major tournament
in 30 years should be a collective push at all levels
of the game to ensure it will not be as long until the
next time.
Euro 2016 was something else and something very
special. From the players’ remarkable efforts on the
pitch to the unstinting support provided by our fans
in France and back home, the tournament provided
a rich tapestry of amazing scenes and memories.
The four games in which the team competed
triggered a wide array of emotions. And they were
all played in electric atmospheres largely created,
nurtured and maintained (often long after the final
whistle) by the Green and White Army hordes.
Northern Ireland’s debut encounter at a European
Championship finals was a bittersweet experience.
Great to be there but not a great result.
The Poles came flying out of the traps, caught
us on the hop with their pace and power, and
fully deserved their 1-0 win in Nice courtesy of an
Arkadiusz Milik strike. The players were rattled,
the fans disappointed, but a steely determination
quickly developed within the squad to put things
right in the next game.
And boy did they deliver after making the relatively
short journey from Chateau de Pizay, the classy
team hotel during Euro 2016, to the Stade de Lyon
where they faced Ukraine in their second game in
Group C.
After a tight first half the game sprang to life early
in the second half when Gareth McAuley notched
Northern Ireland’s first ever goal at a European
Championship finals.
It came in the 49th minute when Big G soared
above Ukrainian defender Yevhen Khacheridi to get
on the end of a fine Ollie Norwood delivery from a
free-kick - and planted a glorious header firmly into
the back of the net. Ukraine keeper Andriy Pyatov
stood almost motionless as the ball whizzed past
him in the pouring rain.
And the icing was firmly put on the cake when,
deep into injury time, Northern Ireland doubled
their lead. Sub Josh Magennis powered and tricked
his way past a defender out wide and pulled the
ball back to Stuart Dallas. His neat snapshot was
parried by Pyatov but landed at the feet of another
sub, Niall McGinn, who coolly slotted the ball home.
The Green and White Army erupted. The stadium
went bonkers. A famous victory had been secured.
Next up were Germany, the formidable reigning
world champions, and they produced a master
class. They were a joy to watch.
Afterwards Ollie Norwood said the Germans were
the best team he had ever played against. And
they were certainly on fire at the Parc des Princes
in Paris. Their movement and their intensity were
mindblowing.
Although the only goal of the game, scored by
German striker Mario Gomez, was a tad fortunate,
there was no getting away from the fact that
Michael McGovern was Northern Ireland’s star
performer in the game. Time after time he thwarted
the Germans, pulling off some incredible saves. A
handful of the stops were world class.
Behind the scenes, the Germans were also classy –
polite and friendly. Bastian Schweinsteiger was full
of praise for our fans, while Manuel Neuer wanted
to swap his shirt with only one person: Michael
McGovern. And Mats Hummels made sure he got
hold of Will Grigg’s shirt because “I love the song”.
Of course, the 1-0 reverse was enough to get
Northern Ireland through to the Round of 16 and it
was back to Parc des Princes to face Wales.
The boys in white and green - they were wearing
the away kit - controlled the game, with Jonny
Evans marshalling Gareth Bale superbly and the
28
www.irishfa.comNigel Tilson reflects on Northern Ireland’s big
adventure in France in the summer of 2016
SWEET DREAMS
ARE MADE OF THIS...