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Agence France-Presse

Mario Gomez struck as world champions Germany beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Paris on Tuesday to qualify for the Euro 2016 knockout phase as winners of Group C.
Drafted in to address the goal-scoring problems witnessed in Germany’s 0-0 draw with Poland, the on-loan Besiktas striker netted from Thomas Mueller’s pass in the 30th minute at Parc des Princes.
That Germany did not win more handsomely was due largely to the excellence of Northern Irish goalkeeper Michael McGovern.
But it was enough to preserve their position at the top of the group on goal difference above Poland, who beat Ukraine by the same scoreline in Marseille.

Joachim Loew’s side will now turn their thoughts to a last 16 tie against either Albania, Slovakia or the third-place team in Group F -- which is yet to conclude -- in Lille on Sunday.
Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland, had their qualification as one of the four best third-place teams confirmed after Turkey beat Czech Republic 2-0
“It was busy today and mentally very hard,” said McGovern. “We knew every goal was crucial so we wanted to keep it at one and maybe nick a goal of our own.
“Germany had a slow start, but they were excellent today. We could not get out.”
O’Neill kept faith with the team that had overcome Ukraine, but whereas his side had set the tempo in Lyon, they were immediately on the back foot against Germany.
With full-backs Jonas Hector and Joshua Kimmich pushing high up on either flank and Jerome Boateng and Toni Kroos lofting passes behind the Northern Irish defence, Germany effectively took up residence in the final third.

McGovern was solicited three times in the first 12 minutes, saving alertly with his body and feet from Gomez, Mesut Ozil and Mario Goetze, who dropped into an attacking midfield role to accommodate Gomez up front.
Mueller twice went close, thrashing a shot across goal and then striking the base of the right-hand post with a plunging header, before creating the opener for Gomez.
Gomez’s subtle pass sent the Bayern Munich forward scampering through and after luring McGovern from his line, he showed great awareness to lay the ball off for Gomez, who steered the ball through a thicket of defenders and into the net.

Mueller then placed a shot against the bar from a Hector cut-back, while Gomez could only scuff meekly at McGovern when Ozil’s pass and Goetze’s dummy left him one-on-one.
All Northern Ireland offered in response was a Jamie Ward shot that went straight at Manuel Neuer, but their green-clad fans remained unbowed, volubly belting out their famous ode to striker Will Grigg.
Goetze’s luck did not change in the second half as he was brilliantly thwarted again by McGovern before sliding Hector’s cross wide at the near post, and he was soon replaced by Andre Schuerrle.
Kyle Lafferty, Northern Ireland’s top scorer in qualifying, also entered the fray, replacing Conor Washington, but still Germany dominated, with McGovern again taking centre-stage.
The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for Scottish club Hamilton Academical, saved one-handed from Sami Khedira’s drilled effort and then produced a superb finger-tip stop to tip away a firm header by Gomez.


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2016 Uefa European Championship (Euro 2016)

Gomez guides Germany into Euro 2016 knockouts - and Northern Ireland are through too after heroic display from keeper

Goalkeeper Michael McGovern of Northern Ireland clears the ball EPA/YOAN VALAT EDITORIAL USE ONLY

epa05381968 Kyle Lafferty (L) of Northern Ireland and Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 group C preliminary round match between Northern Ireland and Germany at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, 21 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Michael McGovern (R) stops a goal attempt by Germany's forward Mario Gomez during the Euro 2016 group C football match between Northern Ireland and Germany at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on June 21, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

epa05381784 Mario Gomez (R) of Germany scoring the 1-0 during the UEFA EURO 2016 group C preliminary round match between Northern Ireland and Germany at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, 21 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/SRDJAN SUKI EPA/SRDJAN SUKI EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Sport

Football

Michael O’Neill’s side scrape through as third-placed team after 1-0 defeat


Gomez guides Germany into Euro 2016 knockouts - and Northern Ireland are through too after heroic display from keeper

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Michael O’Neill’s side scrape through as third-placed team after 1-0 defeat

Michael O’Neill’s side scrape through as third-placed team after 1-0 defeat