EURO 2016: Latest from Paris: Northern Ireland v Germany

Mario Gomez’s 29th-minute strike gave Germany a 1-0 half-time lead against Northern Ireland at Euro 2016 after a 45 minutes Michael O’Neill’s side spent largely under siege.

Thomas Muller twice hit the woodwork and Michael McGovern made saves from Muller, Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze but Gomez’s finish via a Gareth McAuley deflection was all the world champions had to show for their dominance.

A win or draw would guarantee a last-16 place for Northern Ireland, though they were unable to trouble Manuel Neuer, with Jamie Ward’s shot down his throat their only attempt.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy was among those in attendance in Paris to see if his country could pull off one of the greatest results in their history.

They were pegged back early on from a strong German side who had enjoyed more possession than anyone in the tournament after two games, though the Northern Irish spirit was evident when three men converged on Toni Kroos and blocked his shot.

The creativity was coursing through the German midfield and Mesut Ozil’s deft flick sent through Thomas Muller and he was denied brilliantly by Michael McGovern one-on-one.

Germany were having little trouble getting through the plethora of green shirts in front of them and when Gareth McAuley missed a header from Jerome Boateng’s long pass, Ozil was in, yet he fluffed his shot and McGovern’s foot came to the rescue.

On the opposite side of the area Mario Gotze then stole in but the man whose goal won the World Cup two years ago was the next to be denied by McGovern.

Ozil would try again prior to the 20-minute mark, miscuing over after Jonas Hector’s cross bobbled, as Northern Ireland’s players drew breath.

It seemed a matter of time before the resistance would break, with a large gap between striker Conor Washington and the Northern Irish midfield prevalent throughout, and Muller’s shot across McGovern almost crept inside the far post after Gomez had chested into his path.

It was not until the 26th minute that Northern Ireland mustered a shot, Jamie Ward drilling down Manuel Neuer’s throat when he perhaps should have released Washington ahead of him, but it proved to be but a a mini reprieve as the wave of German attacks returned.

A Muller header from a Kimmich cross came back off the post and, two minutes later, Low’s men led through the recalled Gomez.

Ozil played through Muller and although he was unable to waltz past Aaron Hughes and McGovern, he had the intelligence to lay the ball off to Gomez, whose shot found the net via a McAuley deflection.

O’Neill had stated that his side would not fold as Brazil had done in their 7-1 World Cup semi-final loss two years earlier but Muller nearly doubled the advantage with a shot from Gotze’s pull-back that hit the crossbar.

Not even a set-piece situation, the first of which arrived four minutes before the break, could produce a chance for Norn Iron as Jamie Ward’s delivery went straight to Neuer.

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