21/06/2016 BBC Newsline

separately on BBC Breakfast. Now on BBC One it's time for

Good evening. BBC One it's time for the

Northern Ireland are through to the last 16

of the European Football Championships.

That's despite the team's 1-0 defeat by Germany earlier this evening,

and comes thanks to a win within the last hour by Turkey

These were the scenes among Northern Ireland fans

in Paris tonight shortly after the news came through.

We're joined now from the French capital by BBC

It's been a real night of drama here in Paris.

Northern Ireland may have lost to the world champions,

but they will join them in the knockout stages of Euro 2016

as one of the best third-place finishers in the group stages.

That's because tonight Turkey beat Czech Republic 2-0.

It was a very nervous wait for the team and fans,

but these goals ensure that Northern Ireland's win

against Ukraine and the narrow losses to Poland and tonight

to Germany have been enough to make it through to the next

This evening here at the Parc des Princes, Northern Ireland

were absolutely out on their feet after a gutsy display -

restricting Germany to a 1-0 defeat, and it was largely thanks

Against the reigning world champions it was never going to be easy. And

with golfer Rory McIlroy amongst the thousands of supporters, Northern

Ireland couldn't possibly have imagined it would be quite as tough

as this. The Germans opened up the Northern Ireland defence time and

time again in the first half, but goalkeeper Michael McGovern kept his

side in the game. Northern Ireland rode their luck at times as well.

Eventually the German breakthrough came. Gomez steering the ball home

after half an hour. It was a deserved lead and it could have been

2-0 shortly after, but Thomas Muller's shot crashed off the

woodwork. Remarkably it was only 1-0 at half-time and the German

onslaught continued. But McGovern was unbeatable. It was a superb

second-half defensive display. And an inspired performance by Northern

Ireland's number one. I wouldn't say it was a real classic, but the one

in the second half from Ozil and then the header was great. We went

1-0 behind and I knew we had to keep in the game because goal difference

would come into it. How much did you enjoy your moment on the big stage

tonight? You looked like you thrived. Not just a night, I've

enjoyed everything, the first two games, the whole experience has been

amazing. Just wanted to continue so I can play again. What did your

opposite number say? Just well done and then we swapped shirts. He's an

amazing goalkeeper and I look up to him so it was nice to get his shirt.

Despite defeat, the manager was thrilled with his team's

performance. Let's be honest, playing the best team in the world

internationally and we knew it would be difficult. I thought we started

quite well although we consume did opportunities and Michael had to

make three great early saves. But we stuck at it having gone behind. The

players had one word to describe their goalkeeper's night.

Unbelievable, just unbelievable performance. He was pulling off

saves he had no right to pull off and kept us in it, kept us

believing. Kept us going, absolutely fantastic. We needed him. Against

teams like that, they are going to create chances, they are top, top

players. First half maybe we didn't get close enough. If we get three we

have a lot to thank him for. If they ever get through us, we have the

belief he is there. Some players performances seem to be improving

with each game. They are obviously a world-class team, they got in behind

as a few times and got a number of opportunities, but Mickey was always

there to stop them. The Northern Ireland fans sang from start to

finish and continued for half an hour after the match. Now they have

even more to celebrate. In the last 16 it looks likely that

Northern Ireland will play either France or Wales this weekend. And a

few moments ago this was the reaction of the Northern Ireland

manager Michael O'Neill to qualifying for the knockout stages.

If I was picking the team we would have the best chance against it

would be Wales. We played them in March and we were unlucky not to win

in Cardiff. We'll see what comes out after the final group game is

tomorrow. We're just delighted that we're still in the tournament with

another game to look forward to. We'll be ready to play whoever on

Sunday. I'm joined by former Northern Ireland international John

O'Neill. Very happy man like all Northern Ireland. Your reaction?

Simply delighted. We've waited 30 years for this, the players were

fantastic, the manager has been brilliant and the supporters were

amazing. What about a night's performance? Beaten but a tremendous

display. They played really, really well. They defended superbly.

Michael McGovern put in a performance which is as good as

anything that -- as anything I've ever seen since Pat Jennings against

Brazil in Mexico. We kept it down to one goal. We were standing here for

half an hour in the car park praying for Turkey to score and then for

them not to score any more! It was amazing and the fans half an hour

after the game was over worse still shouting Will Grigg's on fire. Who

would you like to see? I'd love to see France. It's a great experience

when you play the host nation, like we did in Spain in 1982. Michael

O'Neill might have a different take, he might think we'd have a better

chance of beating Wales, but I'm not so sure. A special night for

Northern Ireland. We can now join Mark Stimson, who's been following

the fans. He's at the Eiffel Tower. You'd think Northern Ireland had

just won the euro is the way the fans are celebrating in the French

capital tonight. The Eiffel Tower may look red, but they are painting

the town green as we speak. The French authorities even had problems

getting the fans to leave the fan zone, they were in such good form.

And why not. They've spent a lot of money, thousands of pounds in some

cases, following their team around the country and they wanted to

savour the moment. It's been a dramatic night with highs and lows,

the defeat earlier and the good news later.

I've been speaking to those fans. It was a bittersweet night for the

Northern Ireland fans. Down but not out. And all the other teams have

started singing their songs. But what about the match? What was

the fans's verdict on the 1-0 defeat by Germany? We enjoyed the match. It

could have been better, it could have been worse. After the first

half, it could have been four or five in the first and another 45 in

the second so 1-0 is a good result. You're playing the World champions!

Magic. It could have been worse. The goal difference is the important

thing. We've only lost 1-0 so we have a good chance of going through.

Michael McGovern kept us in the game and kept the score down. It could

have been three or four. I have to get back for work. If it was a day

trip, I'd be back. What was the atmosphere like in the ground?

Powerful, unbelievable in all three games. We stayed for an hour

afterwards singing. Couldn't get us out, not going home! The whole

atmosphere has been fantastic. I'm going home tomorrow, but I might

come back! We've got blood, we got passion, we've got heart. Where the

only nation in this condition that's got it. We are the green and white

army. Bring it on. We are bringing it home! After two weeks in France,

the Northern Ireland dream is still very much alive.

Among the supporters at the match tonight was Sinn Fein's Martin

McGuinness, the Debbie de First Minister. He took his seat around

eight minutes into the match against France. -- deputy. He arrived after

the national anthems. I spoke to him before the game and I asked him was

he not more naturally a Republic of Ireland supporter. Some cynics might

say his attendance was gesture politics. This was his response. I

could easily have stayed at home and not given any recognition to Michael

O'Neill 's mag achievements, and the team. I look at a group of young man

enjoying themselves and whose livelihood is playing professional

soccer and I see them playing on the pitch and they are playing their

heart out. For themselves because they are on a world stage, but also

for their communities. That's what it's all about. Celebrating fans

earlier, not going home. Realistically many will have to go

home, but reluctantly so. Yes. In theory, but I dare say a lot of fans

are phoning home tonight and saying, can I? Would you mind? Can I come

home next week instead? I know a few journalists will have to make that

phone call as well. The good news for the fans is that if, as seems

likely, it will be France in Lil, they've been there before. There

will be no surprises, they could probably books the same hotels. Yes,

they will be tired and out of pocket, but we are almost into week

three of the tournament so I dare say for a lot of those fans they

might go home break, but they will probably be fluent in French by the

end of it! I hope they have a change of socks at least. Enjoy the rest of

the evening. Here at home, many Northern Ireland

supporters watched the game in fan zones in places likes Lisburn,

Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne. The biggest gathering was in

the Titanic Quarter in Belfast. Please make your way over... They

came in their thousands, the green and white army marched into Titanic

Belfast with flags and hopes held high, but there was agony during the

match. By half-time, with Germany holding that 1-0 lead, you might

think spirits might have flagged at the various sites where supporters

had gathered, but not a bit of it. We are laughing! We're going to win

2-1. We're playing the World champions say we need to step it up.

We'll be right. And there was plenty to keep the supporters on edge in

the second half. But when the final whistle blew, wherever they were

watching, the fans were still smiling. The Republic tomorrow. I

can't see Sweden beating Belgium so I think we're three. Great

goalkeeping from Michael McGovern. A 1-0 defeat... Well done, Northern

Ireland. The green and white army keeping the dream alive.

I think it will be a long night! There have been serious concerns

about the state of the pitch in Lille for the Republic's crucial

game against Italy tomorrow. Work's been going on all day

to try to dry it out The Republic weren't able to train

at the ground today and had We'll have the build-up to the match

on tomorrow evening's The police say a significant

explosives find in north Belfast shows that when people provide them

with information, it helps A quantity of what's believed to be

semtex was uncovered at a block of flats in the New Lodge yesterday

as a result of a tip-off Army bomb disposal experts were

called to the scene at Maeve house last night. Semtex is a highly

dangerous plastic explosive, almost 3.5 lbs of it were found. It's said

this is enough to make three under car booby-traps. Police say they

received a tip-off from a member of the public and have thanked

residents that their cooperation. Two years ago a similar quantity of

explosives was found in a cupboard in the same building. Speaking about

this latest seizure, the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness

said he was hugely relieved and delighted that the explosives had

been made safe. The Police Federation of Northern Ireland says

it believes the explosives would have been used to target members of

the security forces. The Home Secretary says it's

inconceivable there won't be any changes to arrangements

at the border if the UK pulls out Theresa May visited Northern Ireland

today to campaign for a Remain vote If we just think about it, if we are

out of the European Union, with tariffs on exporting goods into the

EU, there would have to be something to recognise that between the

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. If you pulled out of the EU

and came out of free movement, how could you have a situation where

there was an open border with a country who was in the EU and had

access to free movement? The DUP says the cost of taking out

a big Vote Leave advertisement in the Metro newspaper in London

is a "price worth paying". The DUP's referendum message

was wrapped around today's edition of the tabloid paper,

which is distributed free at tube stations and other

places around the city. We are a national party. We are the

fourth largest party in the House of Commons and this is a national

campaign. Northern Ireland has been on the periphery of this campaign,

as far as the DUP has been concerned, we've been a central

player in the Leave campaign. It is conceivable to take that hurt in

that particular publication and to take it in the ones in Northern

Ireland. There was some rain around today, but overall not a bad day.

Let's find out the forecast over the next few days.

We do have one or two scattered showers tonight, but generally for

many of us it is a dry and mild one with temperatures typically falling

to about ten or 11 degrees. As we get into tomorrow, very little will

change. It will be largely dry with a lot of cloud, but that will break

and there will be sunshine. At times that cloud will be thick enough to

give one or two isolated showers. Pushing east in the morning,

brightening behind it. There will be scattered showers coming in across

the south of Wales, south-west England and a few of those will push

further east through the day and we could see a touch of thunder as

well. Otherwise largely dry picture. More sunny spells the further north

you are with scattered showers. And. Although there will also be

scattered showers in Northern Ireland, there will be sunny gaps

and it will feel warm in the sunshine. Temperatures reaching 21

degrees. Temperatures will top out at 18 or 19 for us tomorrow. Maybe

20 in the sunshine. Tomorrow evening, if you're heading to

Belfast for the Republic of Ireland game, we're expecting it to be dry

and warm. As for Thursday, it will get off to a promising start. Dry

with sunshine, but through the day the clouds will push in from the

Atlantic and they will bring rain, some of which may be heavy.

Temperatures won't suffer. We'll still reach 18 or 19 degrees.

Towards the end of the week, we always have some scattered showers

and a few of them could be heavy. But it's not a complete wash-out,

there will be some sunshine and temperatures will stay in the high

games. We'll keep you up-to-date. For now, good night.

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