Euro heartache hard to take for Ian Baraclough

Michal Duris’s extra time strike sealed the win for Slovakia and broke Northern Ireland hearts.

Baraclough though praised his players for their performance in front of 1,000 home fans at the National Stadium .

“There’s not a great deal you can say, they gave us absolutely everything,” he told Sky Sports.

“We couldn’t have asked for any more effort.

“The game plan was to put them under pressure and put the ball in the box as much as possible. I think we did that.

“I’m sure people will always pick out certain things, but for me that’s the worst I have felt after a game.

“For a group of players that are so good to work with, they are a credit to themselves and their families and rhey never know when to lay down and die. That happened tonight, they went right to the end and for me it’s tough to come up with any words of consolation.”

Baraclough also paid tribute to Kyle Lafferty, who came on as a second half substitute, after his sister Sonia passed away last week.

He said: “It just shows the magnitude of the guy that he wants to do so well for his country.

“It’s so tough to make a decision like that to come and play for your country so soon after such a sad loss. His character is there for everyone to see.

“We don’t know if Stuart Dallas has done something bad to his arm, but he just wouldn’t give up.”