Germany pounded Northern Ireland on Tuesday but could only manage a 1-0 win that still ensured the World champion topped its group at the European Championship and advanced to the round of 16.
Defied by the woodwork and standout Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern, Germany had only Mario Gomez’s 30th-minute goal to show for its dominance. Germany topped Group C with seven points and will now meet a third-place team in the next round.
McGovern ensured his team, which ended the group with three points following its victory over Ukraine, can still advance as one of the best third-placed teams. Under the convoluted tiebreaker system being used at Euro 2016, goal difference could be key.
A chant of “We’re not going home” at the final whistle from noisy, boisterous green-clad Irish fans who filled one end of the Parc des Princes suggested they think there will be at least one more match to see possibly at the same venue on Saturday against Wales.
The fans had McGovern to thank. McGovern stood strong to defy Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze twice when they had one-on-one chances, and pushed away a late Gomez header.
Muller also struck the goal frame twice in the first half, as Germany fired 26 attempts on goal compared to Northern Ireland’s two.
McGovern was little known coming to Euro 2016 yet the goalkeeper who plays for Hamilton in Scotland has been exceptional. Aged 31, McGovern was protected by two 36-year-olds in defence a hint at the hard-work ethos that has served Northern Ireland well in its first major tournament in 30 years.
Muller’s inability to score at a European Championship looks ever more mysterious. Prolific at World Cups, with 10 career goals from two tournaments, Muller has yet to score in the European event after eight matches.
Four times in the first half alone, Muller seemed set to strike. A post repelled a diving header, the crossbar sent back a right-foot shot, McGovern blocked one shot, and another was skewed wide of goal.
Chances rained on the Northern Irish despite setting up with six players strung along a defensive line.
Only occasional forward raids of one or two players ever got close to Manuel Neuer’s German goal before back-to-back corners came to little at the hour-mark.
