Northern Ireland 2 Ukraine 0: Historic Euro 2016 win is a triumph for Michael O'Neill's team spirit
Friday 17 June 2016 09:01, UK
Northern Ireland won their first tournament match since 1982 in beating Ukraine 2-0 thanks to goals by Gareth McAuley and Niall McGinn. Adam Bate was there to see history made in Lyon…
"It's probably the proudest I've felt in the dugout in my managerial career," said Michael O'Neill afterwards. It's an emotion shared by the thousands of Northern Ireland supporters who revelled in their team's momentous 2-0 victory over Ukraine.
For Gareth McAuley, the scorer of his side's first goal and the man of the match, it was the thought of those supporters' emotions that stirred his own. "They'll be so proud of everyone tonight," he said. "And that's the important thing for us and the country."
The 36-year-old defender suggested afterwards that it was too soon to be able to rank the moment when he connected perfectly with Oliver Norwood's free-kick, but how can it not be top? The fans loved it so much they were still cheering the reruns on the big screen long after the final whistle.
The crowd played their part all afternoon, from the renditions of Sweet Caroline half an hour before kick-off to the noisy responses during the game when called upon by the players to give them a lift. The Green Army did their bit but the players were the real heroes of the occasion.
Ukraine might have had 65 per cent of possession and completed almost 300 more passes but it was Northern Ireland with the better chances and, most importantly, both of the goals thanks to substitute Niall McGinn's stoppage-time second.
O'Neill had spoken of doing the "ugly side" better but, even amid the hail storm that briefly took the players from the field during the second half, there was beauty in this performance too. History was made in Lyon and yet it was no fluke.
The victory is Northern Ireland's first since that famous day in Valencia when Gerry Armstrong's winner saw off hosts Spain in 1982. They haven't been to a major tournament in 30 years and were curiously seen as a symbol of the expanded Euros format despite having topped their group.
Few gave them a chance in Group C. "Lots of people when the draw was made didn't give us a chance of getting a point," added McAuley. "This is what Northern Ireland is all about - proving people wrong." Ukraine were certainly caught out by a team with such a unity of purpose.
There had been questions over the harmony in the Ukraine dressing room even before the tournament, with midfielder Taras Stepanenko declaring that his "friendship with [winger Andriy] Yarmolenko is over" after being on the receiving end of a vicious challenge in a domestic club game.
Concerns coach Mykhaylo Fomenko had failed to deal with it seem to have been realised. "The players were not united today," he said. "We were not mentally prepared. Perhaps our players underestimated the efforts they needed to get the victory. We allowed them to play their game. That's why we lost."
The contrast with O'Neill's team could hardly have been more delicious for the supporters who encouraged and cajoled their players throughout. McAuley was the hero but everyone impressed, from goalkeeper Michael McGovern to the ever-willing Conor Washington in attack.
In between them, there was Jonny Evans in defence - nobody made more clearances - and the tireless bodies in midfield. Captain Steven Davis covered more than 12 kilometres with Stuart Dallas and Corry Evans not far behind. Wide-man Jamie Ward made more tackles than anyone else.
Neither Ward nor Dallas had started against Poland. "I just felt we needed to get more running power into the team," explained O'Neill afterwards, admitting he had questioned himself in defeat. "It's never easy to change half of your team. They were big decisions but thankfully they came off."
O'Neill had indeed made five changes to his side after that 1-0 loss in their opening game. His boldness might have been interpreted as a panic move if things had not gone his way. Instead, it was inspired. The togetherness survived and perhaps most surprisingly, the squad's strength in depth was evident.
It's never easy to change half of your team. They were big decisions but thankfully they came off.
Consider, for example, the second goal. Josh Magennis, brought on to defend set-pieces and the 18th man to feature for them already in this tournament, skinned his marker and picked out Dallas in the middle. His shot was parried and the rebound fell to McGinn - Northern Ireland's 17th man.
It highlights that team spirit. "The important thing for me was the performance of every single player out there including the lads on the bench," said McAuley. "It's fantastic how we reacted after the Poland game." It'll be fascinating now to see how they react to this triumph.
Football's a romantic game as well. Sometimes the underdogs come through.
A point against Germany in their final group game would surely guarantee Northern Ireland an unlikely place in the knockout stages and even a narrow defeat would give hope. "We have a realistic prize now and that's immensely pleasing," said O'Neill.
But can they get the result against the world champions that would allow the dream to continue? "Football's a romantic game as well," added McAuley. "Sometimes the underdogs come through. Hopefully everyone will write us off again." There's little chance of that now.
