Poland v Northern Ireland

:00:57. > :01:05.England have never won their opening match at the European Championships.

:01:06. > :01:06.Eric Dier smashes it! England find a way, it's a dynamite strike from

:01:07. > :01:26.Eric Dier. Good header! Berezutski! Gareth Bale for Wales, in! He's done

:01:27. > :01:30.it again! And now the chance, the equalising goal! It's a good ball,

:01:31. > :01:39.Aaron Ramsey. Hal Robson-Kanu for Wales! 50 years they have waited.

:01:40. > :01:46.Good afternoon, after England and Wales had mixed fortunes in their

:01:47. > :01:49.opening matches today it's the turn of Northern Ireland, it's been 30

:01:50. > :01:52.years since they graced a major football tournament and the whole

:01:53. > :02:02.country is getting ready to get behind the team.

:02:03. > :02:09.When it comes to sport, Northern Ireland has always punched above its

:02:10. > :02:19.weight. Whether it is boxing, rugby, horse racing, or football. Remember

:02:20. > :02:23.the special moments. Mind you, ask golfers haven't done too badly

:02:24. > :02:28.either. Through the years many have claimed their place in the Northern

:02:29. > :02:32.Ireland sporting Hall of Fame. These heroes help to unite Northern

:02:33. > :02:36.Ireland and now it's your turn. You have already given us memorable

:02:37. > :02:43.moments. Magical Windsor Park nights and on her big -- unforgettable

:02:44. > :02:48.goals. But that's just the beginning and now it's your chance to shine on

:02:49. > :02:51.the biggest stage of all. Coming home to Northern Ireland as a major

:02:52. > :02:59.champion was one of the proudest moments of my career so far. It's an

:03:00. > :03:02.honour for us to have the opportunity to represent Northern

:03:03. > :03:06.Ireland around the world and to put our little country on the sporting

:03:07. > :03:10.map. When you walk out at that stadium take a moment to think about

:03:11. > :03:15.our sporting icons, what they achieved and how this is your chance

:03:16. > :03:18.to take your place alongside them. Feel the pride of what it means to

:03:19. > :03:23.represent your country with the world watching. We are proud of you,

:03:24. > :03:33.so do would you always do, dear to dream. Rory McIlroy wasn't even born

:03:34. > :03:37.when Northern Ireland competed in the 1986 World Cup so can this

:03:38. > :03:42.current squad go down in sporting history alongside those greats?

:03:43. > :03:45.Michael O'Neill's side arrived in France after topping their

:03:46. > :03:50.qualifying group. There is real belief they can cause a shock or two

:03:51. > :03:58.in the group. They start against Poland, the biggest threat comes

:03:59. > :04:02.from Robert Lewandowski who scored 13 times in their qualifying

:04:03. > :04:07.campaign. They finished second, just a point behind world champions

:04:08. > :04:12.Germany but are yet to win a game at these finals. With us to enjoy this

:04:13. > :04:16.match we have former Northern Ireland captain and newly appointed

:04:17. > :04:21.Hibernian manager Neil Lennon alongside Rio Ferdinand and Jermaine

:04:22. > :04:27.Jenas. Monumental day, historical day and a proud day I imagine? I was

:04:28. > :04:33.getting emotional watching the footage, Barry McGuigan, I grew up

:04:34. > :04:37.in that generation, I never thought in my lifetime I would see it again

:04:38. > :04:41.but we are here at this moment, what the players and what Michael have

:04:42. > :04:47.achieved to be here is fantastic. What does it mean to the country?

:04:48. > :04:51.Huge. Back then it inspired a new generation and we hope this will do

:04:52. > :04:54.the same. Football is massive in Northern Ireland, we have been

:04:55. > :04:59.craving things like this for a long time. You can applaud the decision

:05:00. > :05:05.to expand the tournament because it gives countries like Northern

:05:06. > :05:09.Ireland more chances of qualifying. Yes but we finished top of the

:05:10. > :05:13.groups and even if it hadn't been expanded we finished top of the

:05:14. > :05:17.group which makes it more remarkable as we would have still qualified.

:05:18. > :05:22.The turnaround has been even more incredible when you think that they

:05:23. > :05:27.won the group and subway and are on a great unbeaten run. They were top

:05:28. > :05:31.of the group, the qualifying campaign was extraordinary. It was,

:05:32. > :05:35.the job Michael O'Neill has done, if you look at the players he has to

:05:36. > :05:41.choose from, it's pretty phenomenal that not only did they make it but

:05:42. > :05:45.the top to the group, scoring 16 goals, a great campaign, Kyle

:05:46. > :05:49.Lafferty scoring seven goals. So much positivity and they seem to

:05:50. > :05:55.have a club spirit about them and I think that is what they will need to

:05:56. > :06:00.harness. They have difficult opponents today in Poland. Yes, it's

:06:01. > :06:04.funny I was walking around the city earlier today and the Polish bands

:06:05. > :06:07.are here and you ask them how you think they will do and the first

:06:08. > :06:13.name that comes up is Robert Lewandowski, he gives them the hope.

:06:14. > :06:20.Gareth Bale similar for Wales, he is that man, the go to die. This guy,

:06:21. > :06:24.top scorer in the Bundesliga last season, breaking records left right

:06:25. > :06:30.and centre. They have to stop him to stop this Polish team. It's the

:06:31. > :06:35.togetherness they had in qualifying that they will need in this

:06:36. > :06:38.tournament. It's the sum of its parts, we don't have individual

:06:39. > :06:43.brilliance and we have always had great spirit but this is a real

:06:44. > :06:47.camaraderie. Michael O'Neill has found a way of playing which suits

:06:48. > :06:54.the players, he's found a formula which gets results. I would not be

:06:55. > :06:59.surprised if we got a decent result today so long as they handle the

:07:00. > :07:01.occasion. Very much so. As we have mentioned its been awhile since

:07:02. > :07:09.Northern Ireland have been on the big stage but they've made an impact

:07:10. > :07:12.before as Stephen Watson explains. 1958 Northern Ireland were flying

:07:13. > :07:16.off to a first ever major tournament, the World Cup in Sweden.

:07:17. > :07:21.A shock win over the mighty Italy to qualify and a strong performance in

:07:22. > :07:31.the group stages set up a play-off with Czechoslovakia to reach the

:07:32. > :07:35.quarterfinals. At 2-1, the win shocked the world of football. The

:07:36. > :07:41.tactics have always been to equalise before the other team scored. Those

:07:42. > :07:46.unorthodox tactics didn't quite work against France in the quarters but

:07:47. > :07:50.the amazing performance in 1958 served as inspiration for future

:07:51. > :07:55.generations. When you heard the stories, that they were telling us

:07:56. > :07:59.about the games against West Germany, against Czechoslovakia, it

:08:00. > :08:05.started to so little seed and think could we do it? We certainly could.

:08:06. > :08:10.After an impressive qualification campaign we were off to Spain in

:08:11. > :08:15.1982. We hoped to draw against Yugoslavia which we did. The second

:08:16. > :08:21.game against Honduras we had planned to win but we slipped up and ended

:08:22. > :08:26.up drawing. We have got one game left and believe we still have a

:08:27. > :08:29.chance against Spain. We had a great, great desire and a great

:08:30. > :08:33.spirit mixed with Catholics and Protestants playing in the team,

:08:34. > :08:38.really strong. We would be disappointed to know we had come off

:08:39. > :08:44.the field at 0-0, I think I would rather get turned over having not

:08:45. > :08:47.decided to attack them. I spoke to Joe Jordan the other night and he

:08:48. > :08:54.went out and scored, are you superstitious? If I score tonight I

:08:55. > :08:57.will be! We knew we would have three, four, five opportunities and

:08:58. > :09:02.it was one of those, breaking from deep inside our own half, a long run

:09:03. > :09:06.and I am still surprised that he got past anybody and crossed ball of

:09:07. > :09:12.that quality into the box and then the upper Ju Reti presented itself

:09:13. > :09:15.and I did what I had to do. -- thin the opportunity presented itself.

:09:16. > :09:22.Northern Ireland have done it against all the odds! France did for

:09:23. > :09:26.us again in the quarterfinals but it did not dampen the spirits too much.

:09:27. > :09:35.And we were back at it four years later, another World Cup, Mexico

:09:36. > :09:44.1986. To finish playing against Brazil, on my 41st birthday, I could

:09:45. > :09:47.not have dreamt that up. The 3-0 defeat would be Northern Ireland's

:09:48. > :09:54.last in a major tournament until now. 30 years on, you attend

:09:55. > :09:59.supporters functions that they want to talk about, 82 and 86, 58, now we

:10:00. > :10:05.can stop talking about them and start talking about the 2016 side. I

:10:06. > :10:10.played with him at Leicester many years ago. It's been a long time

:10:11. > :10:15.coming. It has, it is wonderful. Since the advent even of the Premier

:10:16. > :10:19.League we have not had a tournament and the fan base and support that

:10:20. > :10:24.the Northern Ireland fans give in England is huge so to be back on the

:10:25. > :10:28.main stage is incredible. Everyone at home will be glued to the TV

:10:29. > :10:36.right now. Memories of those tournaments? 1982, Norman Whiteside

:10:37. > :10:42.the youngest ever player, Pat Jenyns in goal, one of the best ever. They

:10:43. > :10:46.had a good team. They got out of the group, beating Spain in Spain so a

:10:47. > :10:50.fantastic run. The following World Cup in Mexico was a bit more

:10:51. > :10:58.difficult but that team, we still talk about them now. It just shows

:10:59. > :11:05.you can perform and get results. Definitely and I think Leicester are

:11:06. > :11:09.a shining example of that, a lot of the young players in this team, the

:11:10. > :11:13.Manchester United contingent, I have seen them grow up and what they do

:11:14. > :11:17.have which I have seen in qualifying is a good temperament. They have had

:11:18. > :11:21.games where they have been behind or they haven't looked like the

:11:22. > :11:24.favourites but they find a way and that's an important factor in any

:11:25. > :11:28.team. If you can find a way which suits you and you are comfortable

:11:29. > :11:32.with it and understand what the manager is putting out for you it is

:11:33. > :11:37.a powerful thing to have. It's amazing how powerful systems can be,

:11:38. > :11:43.you have 11 players moving around a football pitch. We saw it with Wales

:11:44. > :11:46.yesterday, when you play three at the back teams can find it hard to

:11:47. > :11:54.play against and break down because you don't come up against it often.

:11:55. > :12:03.Today that is something this Northern Ireland team can use in the

:12:04. > :12:31.game. These are the starting XIs for these games.

:12:32. > :12:35.Kyle Lafferty passed a fitness test on Friday, he scored seven goals in

:12:36. > :13:04.qualifying. No man scored more qualifying goals

:13:05. > :13:07.than Robert Lewandowski who scored 13. His strike partner Milik

:13:08. > :13:18.assisted on four occasions. Let's start with the Northern

:13:19. > :13:22.Ireland line-up, we can actually go pitch side were Stephen Watson is

:13:23. > :13:29.with our player who sadly can't be on the pitch today, Chris Brunt.

:13:30. > :13:32.Chris Brunt played eight of the ten qualifying games and no doubt would

:13:33. > :13:35.have been on the field today but sadly is still recovering from a

:13:36. > :13:40.knee injury sustained in February. How difficult is it not being out

:13:41. > :13:45.there? It's absolutely devastating. The last couple of weeks and the

:13:46. > :13:48.build-up and the sendoff from the people in Belfast, I have been

:13:49. > :13:53.following it online and it's been hard to watch. But I'm belated to be

:13:54. > :13:58.here today supporting the lads. It's a fantastic experience, I am not

:13:59. > :14:08.getting on the pitch to be around the squad is great. You had an

:14:09. > :14:14.opportunity to train with the team yesterday and travelled on the team

:14:15. > :14:17.bus, how are they feeling? They are ready, excited. As everyone's been

:14:18. > :14:21.saying it's been a long time coming since we've been in a major

:14:22. > :14:26.tournament, reparation has been done now and the game is here and I think

:14:27. > :14:32.everyone is raving to go. Everyone expected Michael O'Neill to go 3-5-

:14:33. > :14:42.two, he has surprised us, what do you make of the situation? I think

:14:43. > :14:46.three at the back suits us. Two upfront, that's changed, but Steve

:14:47. > :14:53.Davis is more than capable of getting forward. What about the

:14:54. > :14:56.atmosphere today, it's quite unbelievable, it seems half of

:14:57. > :15:02.Northern Ireland is here including your own family? Yeah, my dad,

:15:03. > :15:06.brother and sister are here, my brother is on his stag do so I don't

:15:07. > :15:11.know what sort of state he's in but the fans have been in here all day

:15:12. > :15:12.in full voice and it's nice to see everyone mixing together which you

:15:13. > :15:26.don't see often. OK, Chris, thanks for the moment.

:15:27. > :15:31.They have renamed the George Best Belfast City Airport today after

:15:32. > :15:38.Kyle Lafferty! Just for the day, I presume! You know what it's like to

:15:39. > :15:40.miss out on a tournament, in South Africa, especially after having

:15:41. > :15:46.waited so long, your heart goes out for Chris? Definitely, devastation

:15:47. > :15:51.is the word. It happened to me on the eve of the game. For him to be

:15:52. > :15:54.there soaking it up and being their first hand to witness what he's

:15:55. > :15:58.missing, it must be very difficult for him. But it shows you the team

:15:59. > :16:01.spirit, he is on the team bus, he's travelling with the team. The team

:16:02. > :16:06.have brought him in because they want him to feel part of it and he

:16:07. > :16:09.has played a huge part. I think it's the reason he's going with a back

:16:10. > :16:14.three, because Chris is not playing at left-back. The whole system has

:16:15. > :16:18.changed because of his absence. It's a huge loss because not only can he

:16:19. > :16:24.play a bit, his set piece delivery is fantastic as well. He's a loss.

:16:25. > :16:28.Any surprises in that line up for you? I think the fact that Steven

:16:29. > :16:32.Davis is playing so high up the pitch. It's a positive thing, even

:16:33. > :16:35.though Jamie Ward has been an important player and a very good

:16:36. > :16:39.technical player for Northern Ireland. It's going to be

:16:40. > :16:45.interesting to see the old that Steven Davis plays, so high up the

:16:46. > :16:48.pitch. We will continue our build-up to Northern Ireland Poland shortly,

:16:49. > :16:52.but a glorious day for Wales yesterday. Victory over Slovakia

:16:53. > :16:56.meant they became the first British side to win their opening game in a

:16:57. > :17:01.European Championship. Hal Robson-Kanu's goal gave them their

:17:02. > :17:07.first victory in a match at a major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.

:17:08. > :17:12.A spectacular victory. It was an real. They've been waiting a very

:17:13. > :17:16.long time for a tournament. Huge expectation on the likes of Gareth

:17:17. > :17:19.Bale's shoulders but they stood up and delivered yesterday. Speaking to

:17:20. > :17:24.a couple of their players yesterday, ending songs on the way back to the

:17:25. > :17:27.hotel, they were really enjoying it and I would love to seal the home

:17:28. > :17:31.nations having that type of vibe after a game. The lift it gives to

:17:32. > :17:35.the team and the nation and the people supporting that country is

:17:36. > :17:42.immense and the players feed off that. You could see it in the

:17:43. > :17:47.stadium, the players feed off that. You know what it's like, the 12th

:17:48. > :17:52.man, it gives you that extra lift. I suppose as well it gives other home

:17:53. > :17:55.nation countries, the smaller nations of football like Northern

:17:56. > :18:02.Ireland, a glimmer of hope, doesn't it? Wales winning yesterday? Oh

:18:03. > :18:07.yeah. Slovakia equalised and Harry ready good spell and Wolves came

:18:08. > :18:10.again and went on to win the game. The atmosphere in the stadium

:18:11. > :18:15.yesterday was brilliant and at times the game was end to end and I think

:18:16. > :18:18.we will see more games like that. The commitment from teams who

:18:19. > :18:22.haven't been here before is fantastic. You were watching England

:18:23. > :18:26.in Marseille, what did you make of the performance? I thought it was

:18:27. > :18:29.every performance from England. It was one that excited everyone, it

:18:30. > :18:33.was free-flowing, there was good movement within the team and I was

:18:34. > :18:36.delighted with the way Wayne Rooney played. I thought he dictated the

:18:37. > :18:40.game from the start until he came off, which I wasn't happy to see to

:18:41. > :18:46.be honest, but I thought it was a very good performance from England.

:18:47. > :18:50.A bitter pill to swallow with the late goal at the end but hopefully

:18:51. > :18:53.they can get it out of their system and have positivity. Less pleasing

:18:54. > :18:58.news in Marseille with the trouble that has been down there for the

:18:59. > :19:02.last three days. Uefa have made a statement, a warning to both England

:19:03. > :19:07.and Russian fans. If I may read it... "Uefa has expressed its

:19:08. > :19:11.disgust for the violent clashes which occurred in Marseille. Such

:19:12. > :19:14.unacceptable behaviour by so-called supporters of the national teams of

:19:15. > :19:20.England and Russia has no place in football, a sport we must protect

:19:21. > :19:27.and defend. The Uefa executive committee has warned both

:19:28. > :19:33.associations that irrespective of any decisions relating to actions

:19:34. > :19:40.inside the stadium, it will not hesitate to impose further sanctions

:19:41. > :19:43.on the football Association and the Russian football Federation.

:19:44. > :19:46.Including the disqualification of their respective teams from the

:19:47. > :19:53.tournament, should such violence occur again. You were there, did you

:19:54. > :19:56.witness any such goings-on? In the stadium, yes. Just before the final

:19:57. > :20:00.whistle there were flares being fired from the Russian fans into the

:20:01. > :20:04.England fans. There was a huge bang in the stadium at one point when I

:20:05. > :20:08.think it was a firecracker that went off. As soon as the final whistle

:20:09. > :20:12.goes, they just completely rust, there was no segregation whatsoever

:20:13. > :20:17.between the England fans and the Russian fans and the Russian fans

:20:18. > :20:22.completely rushed all the England fans and they had to burst out of

:20:23. > :20:26.the tunnel. There were children, there were women... It was horrible

:20:27. > :20:30.scene that did not belong at such an unbelievable tournament. I just hope

:20:31. > :20:33.the powers that be get the right intelligence and don't punish the

:20:34. > :20:37.England fans if we are the people getting set upon. Innocent

:20:38. > :20:41.bystanders are getting hurt. If they have to make a decision, I just hope

:20:42. > :20:44.they get the right intelligence. What they've always said is that

:20:45. > :20:49.they can only make decisions about what happens in the stadiums, not in

:20:50. > :20:53.the town centres as well, which sounds like a bit of a different

:20:54. > :20:56.story from what we've seen. Surely there is a responsibility from the

:20:57. > :20:59.tournament to get the segregation right inside the stadium, a policing

:21:00. > :21:05.matter. It's easy to point the finger at England and Russia... It's

:21:06. > :21:11.complex but hopefully things will calm down otherwise teams could be

:21:12. > :21:18.thrown out. In about 25 minutes Northern Ireland kick off their Euro

:21:19. > :21:22.2016 campaign in Nice. It is eco-friendly, draws over three times

:21:23. > :21:30.its own energy requirements from huge solar panels. 35,000 fans will

:21:31. > :21:34.be in the arena for this match. Michael O'Neill is only the third

:21:35. > :21:37.manager to guide Northern Ireland to a major tournament finals, so he

:21:38. > :21:46.will be a very proud man today. Let's hear from him. Qualification

:21:47. > :21:52.over what is essentially a 14 month period and ten tough games, to only

:21:53. > :21:55.lose one game, as we did come subsequently go on and be unbeaten

:21:56. > :22:02.since then gives me great confidence that we are in great shape. There

:22:03. > :22:05.are a lot of players now that have got accustomed to playing

:22:06. > :22:11.international football. They come in in a good frame of mind and get

:22:12. > :22:16.results. If you're not going to have belief now, you're never going to

:22:17. > :22:20.have it. It is a very tough group. But we aim to spring a few surprises

:22:21. > :22:24.and hopefully we can go beyond the group stage. How important is the

:22:25. > :22:28.opening game of the campaign for Northern Ireland? It's essential,

:22:29. > :22:33.really. I think when you're a small country you need to be able to get

:22:34. > :22:39.momentum and belief in your squad can rise dramatically. I look at our

:22:40. > :22:42.squad after three straight wins in qualification and it was a different

:22:43. > :22:46.group of players, they evolved into a different group of players in a

:22:47. > :22:50.very short space of time. If we go and we can win the opening game or

:22:51. > :22:53.we don't lose the opening game, I think you put yourself into a

:22:54. > :22:57.position where if we can win one of the other two games we can qualify.

:22:58. > :23:01.There is an honesty in our team, very hard-working team, but no lack

:23:02. > :23:04.of quality. I don't want people to think we are just a one-dimensional

:23:05. > :23:09.team, difficult to beat and hard-working. At the end of the day

:23:10. > :23:13.we were the top goal-scorers in our group, we scored 18 goals in ten

:23:14. > :23:20.games. What's most important for me is those are the qualities that keep

:23:21. > :23:23.us competitive. Let's head back to Stephen and crisp pitch side,

:23:24. > :23:28.because Chris of course knows Mr O'Neill very well indeed. The

:23:29. > :23:31.Northern Ireland players all week have been talking about how much

:23:32. > :23:35.they want to perform for Michael O'Neill on this stage, the respect

:23:36. > :23:41.they have for him. Chris, what is Michael like as a boss? Yacob he's

:23:42. > :23:44.fantastic. The first four years were difficult but that was a transition

:23:45. > :23:53.period for us. -- yeah, he's fantastic. He's a humble man, he's a

:23:54. > :24:00.good guy as well. I think you can see the spirit and the togetherness

:24:01. > :24:05.in all the players, the medical staff, it's just great, it's a great

:24:06. > :24:08.place to be around. He's also very meticulous in his planning. What

:24:09. > :24:17.areas of Poland will he be wanting to target today? Yeah, he leaves no

:24:18. > :24:23.stone unturned. We just turn up and train and play. I think set pieces

:24:24. > :24:28.are obviously a big thing for us. Even the way he has set out the

:24:29. > :24:32.team, he was expecting two strikers and he has dropped a left midfielder

:24:33. > :24:38.in there. The main things we can exploit... How key will his three

:24:39. > :24:42.Premier League defenders Peter Day to deal with the threat of

:24:43. > :24:48.Lewandowski? I think that's very key, three experienced guys as well,

:24:49. > :24:54.Craig and Gareth and Jonny. Three good defenders. They will need to be

:24:55. > :25:01.at the top of their game to look after Lewandowski today. Thanks,

:25:02. > :25:06.chaps. He seems to be a very canny motivator of players, Michael

:25:07. > :25:12.O'Neill? Very intelligent guy. I've known Michael since we were kids. He

:25:13. > :25:19.came into management late, you know? He was saying on TV the other week

:25:20. > :25:24.he was out shopping with his Mrs and he said he had to get back into

:25:25. > :25:28.football like the old days! Yeah, smooth, really into his stats, he

:25:29. > :25:33.will study the opposition and give players simple instructions. It's a

:25:34. > :25:39.common-sense approach that aims to have worked. He's got the best out

:25:40. > :25:42.of the likes of Lafferty. He was really ill disciplined and kept

:25:43. > :25:45.getting sent off in games for Northern Ireland but Michael had a

:25:46. > :25:50.word with him and put his arm around him and he's been a talisman.

:25:51. > :25:58.Extraordinary turnaround. One win in a team going into the turnaround has

:25:59. > :26:02.been an believable. A lot of it is down to Michael obviously, getting

:26:03. > :26:07.the best out of quality players we have. He's found a way of getting

:26:08. > :26:13.results. Players from different divisions? It's unbelievable because

:26:14. > :26:19.Neil touched on the banks of how this important -- how important this

:26:20. > :26:24.tournament is to Northern Ireland. But can you imagine players going

:26:25. > :26:27.from League 1 and laying on this type of stage against the likes of

:26:28. > :26:30.Lewandowski, what they must be feeling is unbelievable. They've all

:26:31. > :26:37.so got three centre halves who know the Premier League very well. Steven

:26:38. > :26:43.Davis is that real Premier League quality. Lafferty, if he gets a

:26:44. > :26:48.chance in this team, he puts the ball in the back of the net. They

:26:49. > :26:52.seem to set themselves up to be hard to beat. Danger particular from set

:26:53. > :26:58.pieces. He said before, they were obscure as in qualifying in their

:26:59. > :27:03.group. This is where they are key. Delivery and layer is willing to

:27:04. > :27:07.attack the ball. They've got three big centre halves, all big guys.

:27:08. > :27:13.McAuley, really aggressive, really determined. When you go to Europe

:27:14. > :27:16.and play against these type of teams like a Polish teams, they are not

:27:17. > :27:21.accustomed to the aggression the British guys have from set pieces.

:27:22. > :27:27.You can cause problems for these teams. These guys will be a danger

:27:28. > :27:31.from set pieces but I'm sure the Polish will know about that, for

:27:32. > :27:33.sure. We've seen already in this tournament, teams are not

:27:34. > :27:39.necessarily brilliantly organised from corners or free kicks. Yeah,

:27:40. > :27:42.and the keepers so far have made a mistake for most of the gold in the

:27:43. > :27:46.tournament. Put them under pressure, but the ball under the crossbar and

:27:47. > :27:51.see if he has the capability to deal with it. OK, Bayern Munich striker

:27:52. > :27:56.Robert Lewandowski is Poland's biggest threat and he is regarded as

:27:57. > :28:04.Poland's greatest ever striker. Remember the name. His parents were

:28:05. > :28:07.so convinced he would be a start that they overlooked traditional

:28:08. > :28:13.Polish names and call him Robert, so commentators would I do easier to

:28:14. > :28:17.pronounce. 270 goals and a pile of records later, the international

:28:18. > :28:21.sports media give thanks, but not as much as the supporters of Poznan,

:28:22. > :28:26.Dortmund, Bayern Munich and of course Poland. Robert always loved

:28:27. > :28:31.playing football. His success wasn't just down to his focus, it was down

:28:32. > :28:37.to his love of the game. He didn't do it because he had to, because it

:28:38. > :28:43.was his passion. His passion compensated for physical

:28:44. > :28:49.disadvantages. His coaches fed him bacon to beat him up. Robert is

:28:50. > :28:54.without question how key asset. He's a star and a star that works for the

:28:55. > :28:59.team. His role as our talisman cannot be overstated. He plays this

:29:00. > :29:02.role exceptionally. Never more so than in Poland's opening match of

:29:03. > :29:07.their own European Championship four years ago.

:29:08. > :29:13.COMMENTATOR: The star striker has got the goal! But that was as good

:29:14. > :29:20.as it got. No wins, out in nine days. A rare low. He prefers the

:29:21. > :29:25.freedom he enjoys in the white shirt as opposed to the more stringent

:29:26. > :29:29.defences in the Bundesliga. This season he scored five in just nine

:29:30. > :29:35.minutes against Wolfsburg. Some straitjacket! It was unbelievable,

:29:36. > :29:39.you know? It was at the high point of his popular situation in Germany.

:29:40. > :29:43.I think it's something that's never happening again in football, you

:29:44. > :29:48.just have this special moment. Numbers can be numbing, so let's

:29:49. > :29:52.boil it down to this. 42 in 51 games this season, 30 alone in the

:29:53. > :30:00.Bundesliga. He's the first to reach that landmark in 40 years. In that

:30:01. > :30:06.time of Gert Muller, it was easier to score that much because the

:30:07. > :30:09.defences were not that strong. It's a great achievement. His father

:30:10. > :30:13.didn't live to see his confidence justified. Robert is doing all he

:30:14. > :30:18.can to ensure his name will be recited for many years to come.

:30:19. > :30:27.As finishers go he is pretty lethal. Yes, the stats tell you that the

:30:28. > :30:33.chance comes along he will put it in the back of the net. He has

:30:34. > :30:36.everything, he is powerful, great stature, athletic, aggressive,

:30:37. > :30:40.scores all types of goals, in and around the box he is cold, and

:30:41. > :30:46.Iceman. He never looks rushed, he never looks like he doesn't see it,

:30:47. > :30:50.everything is clear as day no matter where he is and he puts it in the

:30:51. > :30:55.back of the net. And he runs behind, behind defenders and the

:30:56. > :31:00.determination and bravery there, he runs behind you and defenders don't

:31:01. > :31:04.like to run back towards the goal. It is effort, defenders want to

:31:05. > :31:08.relax. This is a ridiculous header, the power they generates, back to

:31:09. > :31:12.where it came from, he scores every type of goal and he's the type of

:31:13. > :31:20.player that defenders lose sleep over. How do you stop him? How will

:31:21. > :31:24.they do it? I don't know! LAUGHTER The three at the back might man Mark

:31:25. > :31:30.him, it is an old-fashioned thing which Martin did sometimes, I don't

:31:31. > :31:34.think that'll be the case because you don't do that often in modern

:31:35. > :31:39.football. They need to try to stop the service into him. He is in that

:31:40. > :31:43.bracket of Gareth Bale and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, carrying the hopes of

:31:44. > :31:49.his nation on his shoulders but if anyone can do it he can. Having

:31:50. > :31:52.three centre-halves will give them confidence, there are bodies around

:31:53. > :31:59.and it would be as much space, if it is two against one they could be

:32:00. > :32:04.left one versus one, but hopefully there will be a bit of security with

:32:05. > :32:08.the extra man. Trying to cut off the service, the man who has provided

:32:09. > :32:13.much of that is Milik who has played up front with him. The joint top in

:32:14. > :32:23.terms of number of assists in qualification, assisting the four of

:32:24. > :32:28.the 13 goals Lewandowski scored. He is a player that Denis Burke camp as

:32:29. > :32:34.praised heavily and I can see why. He is his type of player, he's got

:32:35. > :32:38.that touch and that feel and he knows exactly where his strike

:32:39. > :32:42.partner what's the ball. He's got a good eye for the past, the weight of

:32:43. > :32:46.the past is important and he seems to have that. I think when you come

:32:47. > :32:52.from that school of Ajax you have that quality, the breed you with it.

:32:53. > :32:57.21 goals in 31 games which tells you he's pretty prolific as well. He's

:32:58. > :33:03.another they will have to be careful of how the mark. Neil Lennon is

:33:04. > :33:10.going a bit pale, we will move on to Northern Ireland. The week has been

:33:11. > :33:13.dominated by the injury scare to Kyle Lafferty but he has been given

:33:14. > :33:20.the all clear and the man who is crucial to the team starts today.

:33:21. > :33:29.Kyle Lafferty on the turn, scores! Northern Ireland are now within

:33:30. > :33:36.touching distance of Euro 2016. How big an impact can you make do you

:33:37. > :33:40.think? For me, it's going to be a shot window, things are not going

:33:41. > :33:45.well for me at my club so I will go there, go out there and run through

:33:46. > :33:52.walls for the team and hopefully get a few goals. I will hold my hands up

:33:53. > :33:58.and say that I have messed around and didn't show enough people the

:33:59. > :34:01.respect that they deserved. I turned up whenever I wanted at the start of

:34:02. > :34:07.my international career, did what I wanted. But I realised if I wanted

:34:08. > :34:11.an international career I had to wise up and I've done that. I am

:34:12. > :34:15.over the moon that Michael is the manager who is in charge when I

:34:16. > :34:20.finally came out of my bubble and wanted to go places. What would you

:34:21. > :34:25.say is the best piece of advice Michael O'Neill gave you? He said

:34:26. > :34:29.basically believe in yourself and realise everyone needs new here.

:34:30. > :34:32.They don't need have a view, they need the fully committed Kyle

:34:33. > :34:36.Lafferty and everyone knows if he turns up in Northern Ireland can go

:34:37. > :34:44.places. Do you have a favourite goal? Probably the most important

:34:45. > :34:51.and emotional was against Hungary. Lafferty scores for Northern

:34:52. > :35:02.Ireland! He's the magic man again! High school in the 93rd minute to

:35:03. > :35:06.get a massive point -- I scored. Finally, can Northern Ireland spring

:35:07. > :35:10.a real surprise to you think? I think we can, the group is tough but

:35:11. > :35:14.I think the way the games are lined up suits us better. I think we can

:35:15. > :35:17.get something from Poland and I am going to say we are very confident

:35:18. > :35:21.of getting the results we need and making a name for ourselves and

:35:22. > :35:26.showing teams and people that we are not just there by luck. We qualified

:35:27. > :35:31.top of the group and this team is going places. He's had a strange

:35:32. > :35:37.season but Michael O'Neill certainly gets the best out of him, how does

:35:38. > :35:42.he do that? I think he gives them the responsibility of leading the

:35:43. > :35:45.front line. He has weighed in with his goals. I'm not concerned about

:35:46. > :35:49.him not playing much football because even during the campaign he

:35:50. > :35:53.wasn't playing much at Norwich but Michael has got the best out of him.

:35:54. > :35:57.I think there was an immaturity about him previously and Michael sat

:35:58. > :36:02.him down and said I am giving you a responsibility, can you take it on?

:36:03. > :36:08.He certainly done that. When he was at Rangers I came up against him a

:36:09. > :36:14.few times when I was managing Celtic and he can be a real handful. He's

:36:15. > :36:20.good in the air. He's a runner. He can play that role. Put the ball in

:36:21. > :36:28.front of him and he loves it. A defender does not want to come short

:36:29. > :36:34.of the ball. When he gets up there so far in this campaign he has been

:36:35. > :36:39.showing he can finish. Something am a Michael O'Neill has taken someone

:36:40. > :36:42.with an indiscipline problem and he has made him into a player who wants

:36:43. > :36:49.to turn up every time and produce the goods. Reliant on service,

:36:50. > :36:54.Steven Davis in midfield from Southampton is a particularly good

:36:55. > :36:59.player. Yes, exactly what Gareth Bale is to Wales he is the man for

:37:00. > :37:03.Northern Ireland. He is a very good technical player, a player we see

:37:04. > :37:09.every week, in these clips we can see a number of goals he scores. I

:37:10. > :37:11.don't really associate him as a major goal-scorer in midfield

:37:12. > :37:16.because he's so creative and is usually the player that makes the

:37:17. > :37:20.team kept. Towards the end of the season for Southampton he did get a

:37:21. > :37:24.few goals, he's always been one of those players who is very clever,

:37:25. > :37:28.can receive the ball in tight spaces, bring other players into

:37:29. > :37:32.play. Technically very gifted, it will be interesting to see him play

:37:33. > :37:35.higher up and closer to Lafferty this evening because if they are

:37:36. > :37:41.going to score I am pretty sure they will come through him. Here we go,

:37:42. > :37:48.Northern Ireland's first game at a major football tournament for three

:37:49. > :37:52.decades. When you what I did that stadium in Nice take a moment to

:37:53. > :37:57.think about our sporting icons. What they achieved and how this is your

:37:58. > :38:04.chance to take your place alongside them. Feel the pride of what it

:38:05. > :38:08.means to represent your country with the world watching. Now that you

:38:09. > :38:16.will have support like never before. Come on Northern Ireland!

:38:17. > :38:23.Indeed, your commentators in Nice are former Northern Ireland striker

:38:24. > :38:31.Gerry Armstrong and Guy Mowbray. COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon

:38:32. > :38:37.everyone, welcome to Nice and are simply huge occasion for the green

:38:38. > :38:42.and white army. 30 years is a long, long time and yet somehow Northern

:38:43. > :38:47.Ireland's last game at a major international tournament still seems

:38:48. > :38:59.fresh in the mind. Perhaps largely due to a wonder strike from Brazil,

:39:00. > :39:09.Pat Jenning is here today to celebrate his 71st birthday. Gerry

:39:10. > :39:15.Armstrong, this must bring memories flooding back? It certainly is, I am

:39:16. > :39:19.so proud of these boys and what they have achieved. All the games have

:39:20. > :39:23.been tight so far in the competition, only one goal in it in

:39:24. > :39:27.all of the games but Northern Ireland believe in themselves,

:39:28. > :39:36.Michael 's done a fantastic job and I want to see what they can do on

:39:37. > :39:43.the park. Make our country proud. You can feel the pride just looking

:39:44. > :39:48.at the Northern Ireland faces. Out into the warm air as you would

:39:49. > :39:54.expect down in this part of France at this time of year. Polish

:39:55. > :39:57.supporters out in force as well. They fancy their chances having

:39:58. > :40:05.never won a game before at the European Championships. Played six,

:40:06. > :40:08.drawn three, lost three. Poland feel, largely thanks to their

:40:09. > :40:15.brilliant number nine Robert Lewandowski that it might be a bit

:40:16. > :40:22.different this time. Chris Baird the first to turn and face the

:40:23. > :40:24.supporters. Before the action we will all stand and observe the

:40:25. > :41:26.national anthems. And in contrast to what we witnessed

:41:27. > :41:27.last night, applause from the Polish supporters throughout that. That is

:41:28. > :42:21.the way to do it. Reciprocated by the Northern Ireland

:42:22. > :42:34.supporters and applauded by one of their best ever.

:42:35. > :42:45.A real moment in Steven Davis's career and in those of all those

:42:46. > :42:55.following him down the line. A little more experience at this lofty

:42:56. > :42:59.level in the Poland team. Poland have familiar names such as Wojciech

:43:00. > :43:06.Szczesny in goal, preferred to Lukasz Fabianski. The main talent in

:43:07. > :43:17.scoring goals with Milik regularly except plying them -- regularly

:43:18. > :43:20.supplying them for Lewandowski. Blaszczykowski, his 80th cap

:43:21. > :43:27.equalling the number one by the man we have just seen. It's a Romanian

:43:28. > :43:40.refereeing team. For Arsenal supporters, he is the

:43:41. > :43:42.man who sent off Olivier Zhu in the Champions League in Zagreb last

:43:43. > :43:56.September. -- Olivier Giroud. Michael O'Neill surprised some by

:43:57. > :44:01.reverting to a back four for this game with Conor McLaughlin on one

:44:02. > :44:06.side and Jonny Evans on the other, playing for his country for the 50th

:44:07. > :44:10.time. The team led by Steven Davis as ever and spearheaded by Kyle

:44:11. > :44:12.Lafferty who is over the injury scare concerning his groin that he

:44:13. > :44:24.suffered in training on Tuesday. Northern Ireland particularly adept

:44:25. > :44:28.at shutting teams out. Might not be quite so easy against the side which

:44:29. > :44:34.scored more goals in qualifying than anybody else, Poland. But their

:44:35. > :44:36.total of 33 goals was boosted somewhat by bagging 15 in two games

:44:37. > :45:13.against Gibraltar. Fittingly it will be the captain

:45:14. > :45:17.Steven Davis who has the honour of kicking the ball at a major

:45:18. > :45:24.tournament for Northern Ireland for the first time in 30 years. Many of

:45:25. > :45:30.the games have started at quite a brisk pace, will we see the same? I

:45:31. > :45:33.think both sides have gone bit more defensively minded, it's the same

:45:34. > :45:37.old eulogy of not wanting to lose your opening game and trying to hold

:45:38. > :45:38.onto what you've got but I think the game will develop and evolve over

:45:39. > :45:50.the 20 minutes. Gareth McAuley has left the first

:45:51. > :45:51.mark of the game, on Arcadia 's Milik. The referee is calling for

:45:52. > :46:12.cool heads and calm. -- Arcadia 's . It was a late challenge on Milik,

:46:13. > :46:23.who is a bright young star at Ajax. There is the main man to watch.

:46:24. > :46:37.Tried to put it in but couldn't beat Steven Davis, who was immediately in

:46:38. > :46:46.the way. Piszczek as to rely on the help of Szczesny, who was quick to

:46:47. > :46:52.leave his penalty area. Milik again. Jonny Evans only succeeds in giving

:46:53. > :46:56.the ball to Blaszczykowski. Shane Ferguson of Millwall gets the ball

:46:57. > :47:01.out of play. Naturally left footed, he gives them a bit more balance on

:47:02. > :47:14.that left-sided fears playing in front of Jonny Evans. -- if he is

:47:15. > :47:22.playing in front of Jonny Evans. Craig Cathcart concedes possession.

:47:23. > :47:36.Krychowiak. Milik, strong enough to keep the

:47:37. > :47:41.ball. Might be a chance here for Piszczek! The writeback arrived at

:47:42. > :47:46.the right time but couldn't pick out the right man. Excellent play on

:47:47. > :47:56.this right-hand side, overlap from Lukasz Piszczek. Out for a corner

:47:57. > :48:01.kick, early pressure from Poland. It seems that Piszczek does like to get

:48:02. > :48:09.forward. He started out as a striker, the Borussia Dortmund man.

:48:10. > :48:15.Lewandowski only got a flick to it. Kept in by Blaszczykowski, under

:48:16. > :48:21.pressure from Norwood. Here comes Ferguson to win the ball clearly.

:48:22. > :48:36.Szczesny with a high starting position again. Was a bit of a toss

:48:37. > :48:48.of a coin for Adam Nawalka for who he picked in goal. Artur Boruc will

:48:49. > :48:52.feel a little unlucky, -- Lukasz Fabianski will feel a little

:48:53. > :49:00.unlucky. Artur Boruc of Bournemouth settled in third place these days.

:49:01. > :49:04.Blaszczykowski, Gareth McAuley with him.

:49:05. > :49:27.Kapustka, just his eighth cap. Milik.

:49:28. > :49:36.Kapustka, space for the teenager. Milik once the ball in the middle

:49:37. > :49:44.and Lewandowski inevitably as their too. Some good work done by Norwood.

:49:45. > :49:54.Bright start by the polls. Really putting pressure on Northern

:49:55. > :49:58.Ireland's defence. They have -- their defence has held firm though

:49:59. > :50:01.far and polling restricted to shooting from outside the box.

:50:02. > :50:14.Ferguson blocks, Blaszczykowski fired. Piszczek, missed by Milik

:50:15. > :50:15.first time. Going to bounce now to judge a

:50:16. > :50:32.they really have put in some good crosses from either flank. Kyle

:50:33. > :50:47.Lafferty forces the defender to put that one out. Kyle Lafferty, a real

:50:48. > :50:51.enigma of a player. Didn't kick a ball last season, frozen out when he

:50:52. > :50:57.went to Birmingham, and yet a regular scorer at international

:50:58. > :51:01.level. Northern Ireland have been there before with David Healy in

:51:02. > :51:06.recent times. Yeah, we pop up with someone every tournament! That was

:51:07. > :51:12.good play, he put him under pressure and forced him. There we see the

:51:13. > :51:22.chance again, Milik swings at it and he misses it completely. Wasn't a

:51:23. > :51:37.particularly good challenge by Cathcart. Cathcart gambled and...

:51:38. > :51:40.Lewandowski, well policed. Jonny Evans claims that Lewandowski

:51:41. > :51:44.through the arm back towards him and has taken issue with him. He's made

:51:45. > :51:52.a point of it as well. Lewandowski the main man, he has scored more

:51:53. > :51:56.goals than the whole of the Northern Ireland team put together, I would

:51:57. > :52:01.wager. He is their talisman. But I think it takes more than just one

:52:02. > :52:06.man to win a game. So far it's an orthodox five at the back, not

:52:07. > :52:10.wingbacks, just five defenders. They are not -- Poland are overlapping

:52:11. > :52:12.players like this on the left-hand side and they are putting crosses in

:52:13. > :52:28.too easily, for me. Ferguson. There will be a little bit

:52:29. > :52:36.of respite here. Well, excellent play. Closed in down very quickly on

:52:37. > :52:42.this right-hand side. Piszczek likes to get forward, he an attacking

:52:43. > :52:51.full-back. -- he is an attacking full-back. We're talking 30 years

:52:52. > :52:57.ago, Gerry, 34 years. How many beers have you been bought because of that

:52:58. > :53:02.goal against Spain? I think I've put on about three stone since then! Can

:53:03. > :53:07.you imagine how many beers that is? Quite a few, then. Gerry, like

:53:08. > :53:11.everybody supporting Northern Ireland, will be helping that that

:53:12. > :53:15.goal will, in a few weeks' time, no longer be the most famous scored by

:53:16. > :53:26.his countrymen. Poland sorrow, Lukasz Piszczek will

:53:27. > :53:51.take it. Polish options, Milik had a go.

:53:52. > :53:56.Didn't get the angle, didn't get the shot on target. There was one

:53:57. > :54:00.mistake there, Conor McLaughlin sells himself short but look how

:54:01. > :54:05.quickly the others are coming to close him down on the edge of the

:54:06. > :54:10.box. He dives in too early, doesn't give away the free kick. When the

:54:11. > :54:17.cross comes in I like how quickly he is pressurised there. Jonny Evans

:54:18. > :54:23.squeezing Milik, the defender. Poland getting some joy down the

:54:24. > :54:26.sides with their full-backs, Jedrzejczyk and peace cheque. Here

:54:27. > :54:33.is Evans. -- and Piszczek. That was the intended recipient but

:54:34. > :54:57.he sold short. Lewandowski won't leap for that one,

:54:58. > :55:08.Ferguson heads away as far as he can.

:55:09. > :55:14.Jedrzejczyk on this left-hand side, coming in as a left-back replacing

:55:15. > :55:18.the injured player, he's a right footed player and you can see that,

:55:19. > :55:21.he keeps checking in on his right foot. There is Jedrzejczyk, using

:55:22. > :55:31.his left, not to great effect although there was some spin on the

:55:32. > :55:35.ball but pushed back by Chris Baird. He doesn't look as good on his left

:55:36. > :55:39.foot as he does on his right foot, Jedrzejczyk. It refers to check back

:55:40. > :55:48.on his right. This is good from Steven Davis. -- he prefers to.

:55:49. > :56:01.Blaszczykowski was being urged to go sooner than he did by Krychowiak.

:56:02. > :56:10.Out to Jedrzejczyk again. Played predominantly as a writeback central

:56:11. > :56:26.defender. Poland just being a little more

:56:27. > :56:28.patient now, still continuing to boss the game in terms of moving the

:56:29. > :56:42.ball around. I wouldn't be surprised to see how

:56:43. > :56:45.composed they are in possession. The surprise was that they had never won

:56:46. > :56:49.a game at the European Championships new consider their great players. I

:56:50. > :56:57.think that those them under more pressure. It's been talked about at

:56:58. > :57:01.the last two European Championships. It puts more pressure on. Most of

:57:02. > :57:11.that on the shoulders of Lewandowski. Hasn't got the curl.

:57:12. > :57:16.Kapustka thought he might be able to keep that in but he was always

:57:17. > :57:20.losing that. He's 25 yards goal, Blaszczykowski, when he puts the

:57:21. > :57:24.cross in. He needs to get closer to the byline to put a better cross in

:57:25. > :57:31.to give Lewandowski a chance. That is what Michael O'Neill has done

:57:32. > :57:35.well, you don't go 12 games unbeaten qualifying without having a bit of

:57:36. > :57:44.organisation in what you're doing. He's just settling a little. Bounce

:57:45. > :57:55.off the referee, didn't quite go for Norwood as he would have liked it

:57:56. > :58:07.too. Szczesny out to Jedrzejczyk. Put under pressure, Lafferty now

:58:08. > :58:14.turns his attentions to Glik. Cleverly done by Cathcart. Northern

:58:15. > :58:20.Ireland are starting to play a bit of football themselves. They need to

:58:21. > :58:28.keep possession more. Cathcart. Chris Baird helped him out. What a

:58:29. > :58:36.proud moment it is for Fleetwood Town. Absolutely, fantastic. Must be

:58:37. > :58:42.the only Fleetwood Town player I know to have played in a European

:58:43. > :58:56.Championships. He's done so well in the qualifiers. Craig Cathcart

:58:57. > :59:01.another one who has done well. Fleetwood fans will be equally as

:59:02. > :59:04.proud if and when Jamie Vardy gets on the field in these championships.

:59:05. > :59:24.I thought he would have featured last night. Quite a few did...

:59:25. > :59:38.Cut out by Piszczek. McCauley has plenty of time. Plenty of experience

:59:39. > :59:43.although he has never been at one of these before. 62nd appearance for

:59:44. > :59:46.his country. Not bad for a 36-year-old, is it? He must have

:59:47. > :59:51.thought this sort of thing would never happen to him. He's popped up

:59:52. > :59:55.with seven goals for his country and that's a very good return for a

:59:56. > :00:04.central defender. I think only Sergio Ramos, with ten goals, has

:00:05. > :00:08.done better. Gareth McAuley probably fares rather better in the red card

:00:09. > :00:13.front than Sergio Ramos. He has been sent off a lot for Real Madrid but

:00:14. > :00:15.not so much for his national team, fourth Spain. He has got 130 caps,

:00:16. > :00:29.though. A glance between the referee and his

:00:30. > :00:47.assistant. Szczesny who spent most of last

:00:48. > :00:59.season on loan at Roma, 44 appearances.

:01:00. > :01:20.Here is Milik. Milik leaves the area.

:01:21. > :01:33.Burst of pace from the midfielder. Got a deflection, goalkick. He is

:01:34. > :01:36.more of a defensive midfield player, Maczynski, but he's done well.

:01:37. > :01:39.Played some really good football, got himself in a good position and

:01:40. > :01:44.the ricochet comes of Conor McLaughlin and it's one of his own

:01:45. > :01:50.team-mates and goes out for a goal kick. That's a bit unfortunate from

:01:51. > :01:53.his point of view but there are so many green jerseys coming to close

:01:54. > :01:55.him down, it's a well-organised performance so far from Northern

:01:56. > :02:07.Ireland. Ferguson, first chance he has had

:02:08. > :02:17.brought while to venture forward. Oliver Norwood.

:02:18. > :02:28.Up towards Lafferty. Kyle Lafferty again. Paddy McNair was hoping for

:02:29. > :02:56.some sort of service from Lafferty. Norwood, to Ferguson. Ferguson

:02:57. > :03:02.didn't really have any option other than the early ball but nobody was

:03:03. > :03:05.there for it. Yes but you can see Northern Ireland starting to evolve,

:03:06. > :03:13.settle down and pass the ball better. A bit more encouraging going

:03:14. > :03:17.forward. Worth pointing out that Northern Ireland entered the

:03:18. > :03:23.tournament on a run of 12 games unbeaten, which is the best run of

:03:24. > :03:29.form of any team here in France. Blaszczykowski wins the corner for

:03:30. > :03:38.Poland. Initially a good challenge from Ferguson, Blaszczykowski does

:03:39. > :03:48.very well but the cover from Evans is super. Have seen teams defend

:03:49. > :03:51.without a man on the post in quite a lot of the games we have seen so far

:03:52. > :03:58.but Ferguson has gone to the back post here. Blaszczykowski in. That

:03:59. > :04:04.was never hitting the back post. Disappointing from a Polish point of

:04:05. > :04:10.view, the two centre-halves coming forward, Krychowiak is good in the

:04:11. > :04:14.air as well but it was a poor cross. To counter the line on the form of

:04:15. > :04:21.Northern Ireland, Poland pretty impressive themselves, only losing

:04:22. > :04:23.two of the last 20 games. You can see why with what we have seen so

:04:24. > :04:33.far. Can see why when you have him on the

:04:34. > :04:40.field, Lewandowski. Continued to work for the chance. Lafferty

:04:41. > :04:48.winning it in the air and chasing his own ball. We'll have to do a lot

:04:49. > :04:51.more of that. Yes, I would like to see service coming into him better

:04:52. > :04:58.so he can hold it up. It's difficult being the lone ranger. We heard that

:04:59. > :04:59.from Rory McIlroy before the game, talking about Northern Ireland's

:05:00. > :05:46.sporting legends. The referee was happy to let that

:05:47. > :05:50.continue but not once he felt Krychowiak wasn't getting an

:05:51. > :05:57.advantage. He's a powerful figure in the middle of central midfield.

:05:58. > :06:04.Really good ball in. It had to be headed behind, it was wicked from

:06:05. > :06:10.Piszczek, well met by Chris Baird. I don't think Chris Baird could do

:06:11. > :06:17.much else. Michael McGovern has not had to make a save so far.

:06:18. > :06:28.Blaszczykowski to deliver for Poland.

:06:29. > :06:36.At his leisure. They are in, they are out, they are all over the place

:06:37. > :06:48.in the penalty area. Finally the thumbs up. That was met quite well

:06:49. > :06:56.by Piszczek. Blaszczykowski. Jonny Evans sliding them, took the ball

:06:57. > :07:00.and the man. Corner given. Coming in with a great challenge. Wins the

:07:01. > :07:07.ball and it's definitely a goalkick. It has come off the Polish player

:07:08. > :07:12.last, Blaszczykowski. It certainly did. That's a good strike from

:07:13. > :07:23.Piszczek. Nice bit of adjustment from Gareth McAuley to clear.

:07:24. > :07:34.In towards Lewandowski. His every move followed by Cathcart.

:07:35. > :07:42.Lewandowski has gone down after a collision with Evans and is not

:07:43. > :07:46.getting up quickly. Now slowly back to his feet, the number nine. Just

:07:47. > :07:51.at the edge of the penalty area, the ball doesn't reach. That is two

:07:52. > :07:57.brushes between Evans and Lewandowski. I just wonder if it was

:07:58. > :08:02.a reaction? Jonny Evans coming across saying it was accidental.

:08:03. > :08:13.Perhaps went down to easily? I'd like to see the replay.

:08:14. > :08:23.The green and white army is in fine voice.

:08:24. > :08:40.Northern Ireland in qualifying had the second lowest possession of

:08:41. > :08:44.teams that have made it to the tournament, but the most scoring

:08:45. > :08:50.attempts in their qualifying group which shows you that the game is

:08:51. > :08:57.changing. 18 goals in ten qualifying games I think is very credible.

:08:58. > :09:04.That's a good ball. Out of play. Good cover from Craig Cathcart. The

:09:05. > :09:19.attack down the left-hand side well and truly covered.

:09:20. > :09:30.Poland have had two thirds of the ball. And three times as many shots,

:09:31. > :09:32.there or thereabouts, passes rather. Probably three times as many shots

:09:33. > :09:38.as well. Might be another one coming. Evans

:09:39. > :09:56.in the way of it. Davies. Well done Steve Davis. Pushing

:09:57. > :09:58.players forward, wide left and wide right, trying to get the right

:09:59. > :10:42.service into Lewandowski. Michael McGovern not in any great

:10:43. > :10:48.hurry to get the ball away. I'm sure Michael O'Neill will have told his

:10:49. > :10:54.team to play the game in stages. Reach certain points. If it still

:10:55. > :10:58.0-0, job done. Absolutely, longer it goes like that the better it will

:10:59. > :11:03.be. Lewandowski gone down again, the REFEREE: Good position and didn't

:11:04. > :11:16.see anything wrong. Ferguson looking for Lafferty.

:11:17. > :11:28.Evans, Szczesny has come for it. Catches it. Isn't fast whatsoever by

:11:29. > :11:38.the challenge from Lafferty. Fair challenge, and excellent goalkeeping

:11:39. > :11:43.from Szczesny. Kaput scar. -- Kapustka.

:11:44. > :12:12.Milik is on the move. Blaszczykowski. Nice little shimmy

:12:13. > :12:17.away from Baird. Here is Jedrzejczyk, he will want it on his

:12:18. > :12:20.right if he can. He's crossed it three times with his left foot and

:12:21. > :12:25.it's been poor, you can see he's not natural on the left side and that's

:12:26. > :12:30.why he's checking back on his right foot. That bodes well for Northern

:12:31. > :12:32.Ireland as Shane Ferguson, a little and large show they are but showing

:12:33. > :13:06.a lot of determination. Well done. Glik trying to find Milik. In that

:13:07. > :13:12.the parole, Milik, again the run being covered by Gareth McAuley. --

:13:13. > :13:13.in that deeper role. Just starting to see a bit of frustration from

:13:14. > :13:33.this Polish side. I don't think Pazdan was too

:13:34. > :13:39.impressed by the challenge from Paddy McNair. Lewandowski, through

:13:40. > :13:50.the legs of Baird. Milik. Awkward one former governor -- for Michael

:13:51. > :13:54.McGovern. Good run from Milik, does really well, change of direction on

:13:55. > :14:00.his left foot, hits the target. Decent effort well covered by

:14:01. > :14:09.Michael McGovern. First real shot on target and it's taken 28 minutes.

:14:10. > :14:20.Evans, had more time than it at first appeared he had.

:14:21. > :14:45.Davis. Very nice control, to shift the ball away from Kapustka.

:14:46. > :14:53.Lafferty was so concerned with Glik that he couldn't get any timing into

:14:54. > :14:58.jumping for the ball. I would like to see them hit him on the chest

:14:59. > :15:02.with the ball, hold the ball up then he will get supporting play from

:15:03. > :15:06.midfield. Paddy McNair is playing more as a central midfielder now.

:15:07. > :15:14.Oliver Norwood on his left and Steve Davis on his right. A diamond shape.

:15:15. > :15:20.He's won that one. Got the player as well. Maybe a little bit

:15:21. > :15:22.unfortunate. Got a good chunk of the ball but Kapustka has won the free

:15:23. > :15:33.kick. Given against McNair. Kamil Glik. Past the half-hour mark,

:15:34. > :16:02.still Northern Ireland 0-0 Poland. This is Piszczek, this is Glik, this

:16:03. > :16:08.is Milik! Arkadiusz Milik. Easily the best pizza play in the game.

:16:09. > :16:12.Super pull-back from Kapustka. You expect a player of Milik's stature

:16:13. > :16:15.to hit the target from there. He skips around the last defender and

:16:16. > :16:20.then leans back and puts it over the top and that is a big miss for

:16:21. > :16:24.Poland. What a let off for Northern Ireland. He was so composed, whether

:16:25. > :16:40.he took the ball, whether he waited for the chance. He couldn't quite

:16:41. > :16:42.put it back. -- hook it back. 24 goals for Ajax last season, 21 of

:16:43. > :17:19.those in the Dutch league. There is the Polish FA chairman.

:17:20. > :17:25.Zibi Boniek Full is the he was team-mates with the manager.

:17:26. > :17:35.Iconic posters of him in the Juventus shirt. He was a fabulous

:17:36. > :17:44.player, wasn't he? Well played, Shane Ferguson. Up towards Paddy

:17:45. > :17:48.McNair. It looks like he's playing at the front of a diamond. Certainly

:17:49. > :17:55.more advanced than I've seen him play before. A chance for Northern

:17:56. > :18:10.Ireland now. Blaszczykowski stopped him and the

:18:11. > :18:14.referee stops the attack. I thought it should have been a Northern

:18:15. > :18:15.Ireland one, as it came off the Polish player last and through the

:18:16. > :18:35.legs of Shane Ferguson. Handball, kaput scare. -- Kapustka.

:18:36. > :18:38.Well spotted by the remaining referee.

:18:39. > :18:46.-- well spotted by the Romain Ian referee.

:18:47. > :18:56.The first time that Gareth McAuley has decided to go forward. I think

:18:57. > :19:00.Northern Ireland are particular get that set plays and they need to get

:19:01. > :19:08.forward into the Polish third much more often.

:19:09. > :19:17.Paddy McNair might have to go back to Chris Baird. Now Chris Baird.

:19:18. > :19:35.What can Lafferty do with this? Not enough.

:19:36. > :19:42.Norwood delivers a pretty mean free kick and corner too. Nine of

:19:43. > :19:47.Northern Ireland's 16 goals in qualifying came from set pieces. Six

:19:48. > :19:59.from corners, three indirectly from free kicks. Ferguson.

:20:00. > :20:13.Cathcart... Lafferty just very strongly manoeuvred Glik out of his

:20:14. > :20:15.way. He looks around and then he runs back into Glik. I'm certain it

:20:16. > :20:50.was a free kick. Blaszczykowski. Glik's header. Steven Davis then

:20:51. > :20:55.turns his attentions successfully to Pazdan. Pazdan was caught under a

:20:56. > :20:59.lot of pressure from Steven Davis and he felt it came off Pazdan, but

:21:00. > :21:07.the linesman didn't see it that way. We've had a few of those now. He

:21:08. > :21:29.pushes the ball onto it and then everyone appeals for it.

:21:30. > :21:37.-- Krychowiak Lance winning trophies in Europe as a Sevilla player. The

:21:38. > :21:45.Europa League pretty much belongs to them. Kapustka wasn't afraid of

:21:46. > :21:47.shooting, but not where the target was. Well, a pretty poor effort. He

:21:48. > :22:00.has hoped it wide. In contrast, a pretty good effort

:22:01. > :22:05.from Northern Ireland. Coming up to 37 minutes played. Yes, they might

:22:06. > :22:08.not have registered an attempt on goal worthy of the name, but they

:22:09. > :22:13.are keeping Poland out under severe pressure. Steven Davis, when he

:22:14. > :22:15.pressured the defender, it showed you under a lot of pressure they can

:22:16. > :22:30.be caught out. Lewandowski has kept it in. The

:22:31. > :22:35.deflection took it against the corner flag. Now it has gone behind

:22:36. > :22:41.for a corner that has been won by Lewandowski. It looked like the ball

:22:42. > :22:46.was going to go out of play. It hits the corner flag, gets a bit of good

:22:47. > :22:48.fortune, and then the clever nutmeg on Gareth McAuley and wins the

:22:49. > :22:55.corner kick off Jonny Evans. Michael McGovern ready, with Milik

:22:56. > :23:11.taking. He will take another one now. Well

:23:12. > :23:27.done Kyle Lafferty, near post, on the way back. Poland pushing

:23:28. > :23:37.everybody up bar Lukasz Piszczek. Something different from Milik.

:23:38. > :23:42.Awkward one, the Polish fans appeal for handball, here is Kapustka!

:23:43. > :23:46.Saved by McGovern. It flew in quickly. Well, he's adjusted very

:23:47. > :23:50.well to get his knee over the top and hit the target. This ball not

:23:51. > :23:58.really dealt with very well, maybe should have been a header. Look at

:23:59. > :24:05.the quick movement from Kapustka. I think it hit Kyle Lafferty on the

:24:06. > :24:08.thigh, but that's an excellent save from Michael McGovern. Pretty close

:24:09. > :24:14.to him but moving quickly and needed strong hands. Two good chances in

:24:15. > :24:23.the last ten minutes for Poland. Blaszczykowski on the corner. Milik,

:24:24. > :24:31.how did he get so free? Jedrzejczyk! Pazdan tries to guided towards goal

:24:32. > :24:35.but finds only the side netting. Well, a lot of pushing and shoving.

:24:36. > :24:40.Three or four players come down and somehow it finds its way to the back

:24:41. > :24:44.post and then it's a sea of green shirts getting under way before it

:24:45. > :24:53.hits the side netting. -- getting in the way. Cathcart didn't quite get

:24:54. > :24:59.it completely away. I'm impressed with the number of green shirts that

:25:00. > :25:03.seem to want to get in the way and block attempts. Very willing to get

:25:04. > :25:12.in the way of the attempted shots from the Polish. When it hits him

:25:13. > :25:18.and goes up onto the arm, you can't do a lot about those. Lewandowski

:25:19. > :25:24.looking to impose himself. He's not really had too many opportunities.

:25:25. > :25:29.He goes in between Gareth McAuley and Jonny Evans and there's no way

:25:30. > :25:36.he's going to win that. There's no love lost between Jonny Evans and

:25:37. > :25:43.Robert Lewandowski! That is the best effort and a great save from Michael

:25:44. > :25:46.McGovern. Four and a half minutes and a little bit more for Northern

:25:47. > :25:50.Ireland to keep on doing what they're doing and hold out until

:25:51. > :25:52.half-time, although with every passing minute that seems to be a

:25:53. > :26:17.harder task. He played for that, didn't he? He

:26:18. > :26:22.waited for the contact from Oliver Norwood and you can see he wants to

:26:23. > :26:29.go down. Clever play there from Krychowiak too.

:26:30. > :26:42.Lovely bit of skill from Jakub Blaszczykowski. The free kick goes

:26:43. > :26:47.against him. You can see he was looking at Krychowiak, looking to

:26:48. > :26:51.get the free kick, and he's gone down far too easily, says the

:26:52. > :26:56.referee. That's the right decision. I just know I'm going to regret

:26:57. > :26:59.saying this at some point, but the referee has been excellent so far.

:27:00. > :27:03.They seem intent on letting the game flow as much as possible. He goes

:27:04. > :27:07.down for no reason and grabs the ball. That's what the free kick is

:27:08. > :27:34.for. It should have been a caution too.

:27:35. > :27:44.Maczynski was the offender. He is the anchorman in midfield. Anchorman

:27:45. > :27:52.or angry man? CHUCKLES

:27:53. > :27:55.They might need him in the second part if they are searching for a

:27:56. > :28:17.creative player to create something. Lafferty. Jedrzejczyk got his head

:28:18. > :28:24.down and won it. Does well to keep it in too. Free kick, Poland. Looks

:28:25. > :28:30.like it was Craig Cathcart, or was it Conor McLaughlin? The referee

:28:31. > :28:38.just having a word. He's in full flight here, plays the 1-2. I don't

:28:39. > :28:49.think he can stop him, there. Maybe that's why he didn't book. A stern

:28:50. > :29:08."No more", from the Romanian rest. -- referee.

:29:09. > :29:17.Piszczek is darting in from right back here. Back to Blaszczykowski.

:29:18. > :29:25.They form a really good partnership down the right for Poland. In from

:29:26. > :29:30.Piszczek, but straight into the gloves of Michael McGovern. You can

:29:31. > :29:38.see he is naturally right footed, Piszczek, and he's cutting in on his

:29:39. > :29:42.right foot. They can't get the right angle on the pass with their weaker

:29:43. > :29:48.foot. Lafferty, all very well winning those, but where are they

:29:49. > :29:57.going to go? No one is close enough to him to support him, there. Milik,

:29:58. > :30:11.Krychowiak. Nice bit of awareness. Piszczek starts to go again outside.

:30:12. > :30:25.Piszczek. No time added on to the end of the first half. That is it in

:30:26. > :30:30.Nice for now. No goals but Poland have dominated from the start a

:30:31. > :30:38.Milik went close, might have hit the target. When they finally did

:30:39. > :30:42.through Kapustka Michael McGovern was equal to it. So far so good for

:30:43. > :30:44.the men in green, Northern Ireland holding out for a hero, who will it

:30:45. > :30:54.be? Many of the statistics might suggest

:30:55. > :30:58.Poland had the better of things in the first half but the only thing

:30:59. > :31:01.which matters is the scoreline and Northern Ireland still very much in

:31:02. > :31:06.it. How will they be feeling considering the fact they barely got

:31:07. > :31:11.owned their own half? They will be pleased, the restricted Poland,

:31:12. > :31:15.pushed them wide and have let them play through the middle. They have

:31:16. > :31:20.kept Lewandowski pretty quiet. Michael McGovern only had one save

:31:21. > :31:23.to make so I think Michael O'Neill will be pretty pleased. From an

:31:24. > :31:27.attacking point of view we have been pretty nonexistent but maybe that's

:31:28. > :31:32.what they expect, waiting on a set play to get the ball into the box?

:31:33. > :31:36.They are saying to Poland, and brick is down if you are good enough and

:31:37. > :31:41.at the moment they have not been. Only conceded one first-half goal in

:31:42. > :31:46.their previous 20 games, Northern Ireland, now 21, so as a defender

:31:47. > :31:54.you can applaud that. They are not like they want to get out but they

:31:55. > :31:59.look comfortable in what they are doing. They have set out a strategy

:32:00. > :32:03.of saying come on, break us down. Do you have the quality to get the ball

:32:04. > :32:07.behind us defenders to create problems and at the moment they

:32:08. > :32:12.haven't. They look comfortable, they haven't had the ball but this is the

:32:13. > :32:16.game plan they have set up with. Where they are crossing the ball

:32:17. > :32:21.from has not been an area that would concern you. Crossing from outside

:32:22. > :32:25.of the box and from wide areas and fairly deep. Look at the bodies they

:32:26. > :32:30.have got in the backline and the guys in front for anything that

:32:31. > :32:35.drops. You have to be precise to pick out the man. I felt in the

:32:36. > :32:39.first five minutes we were all bit worried because Poland were getting

:32:40. > :32:43.a head of steam, getting into good areas, especially here. A lot of

:32:44. > :32:48.numbers about to get in the box, it was time to recover, and we have the

:32:49. > :32:51.numbers to get into the late area to deal with this and they have been

:32:52. > :32:55.answering that question for the majority of the first 45 by filling

:32:56. > :32:59.gaps, winning headers and as you said, from my point of view as well,

:33:00. > :33:03.they have looked comfortable when the crosses have been going into the

:33:04. > :33:07.box. The centre-half so been very strong and they must be very vocal

:33:08. > :33:12.as well. From midfielder point of view they always seem to be in and

:33:13. > :33:16.around them so if anything drops they are they are to help out.

:33:17. > :33:20.Between the three of them there is obviously a lot of communication.

:33:21. > :33:23.It's always a danger when you are letting crosses come into the box

:33:24. > :33:29.but they seem to be set up to deal with it. That was a brilliant point

:33:30. > :33:35.about the psychology of the game, do you want to explain it? It was just

:33:36. > :33:39.about possession, these players will be used to not having the ball. When

:33:40. > :33:43.you're part of a team which always has the ball and likes to move it

:33:44. > :33:46.around its a lovely feeling. But this side have been going through

:33:47. > :33:51.the whole qualification campaign with average possession of 45%. This

:33:52. > :33:55.is how they play, they are used to it. They are not getting frustrated,

:33:56. > :34:00.they get into the right position and know what to do. When you are so

:34:01. > :34:08.organised defensively it's important to be patient. The other team can

:34:09. > :34:13.get frustrated. Exactly. The next ten, 15 minutes or so important.

:34:14. > :34:19.Coming in, settling down, can they pick up the pace of the game, can

:34:20. > :34:23.Poland pick up the pace of the game again? Can Northern Ireland keep the

:34:24. > :34:28.sheep? Have you played much in three the back? I played for West Ham in

:34:29. > :34:33.my younger years with three at the back. What's the principled offender

:34:34. > :34:37.between having just one other alongside you as opposed to having

:34:38. > :34:43.two, what's the difference for you as a central defender? You have

:34:44. > :34:47.numbers, and extra partner who can help you. It depends how you play,

:34:48. > :34:53.you can play three at the back with two wingbacks then you are left

:34:54. > :35:01.about isolated. But when the full-backs are back you have the

:35:02. > :35:07.winger and a pull-back coming on. As a centre-half, the way you are

:35:08. > :35:10.playing, I would feel very comfortable with them crossing the

:35:11. > :35:14.ball. If they change it and start trying to pull your midfielder is

:35:15. > :35:17.owed to create spaces that is when there will be a few different

:35:18. > :35:20.problems and questions. At the moment they are playing into the

:35:21. > :35:26.hands of Northern Ireland by crossing from deep. We picked him

:35:27. > :35:31.out before the game, Milik, he had a couple of opportunities, as close as

:35:32. > :35:34.anybody. He should have done a lot better I think with the second

:35:35. > :35:40.opportunity which fell to him, the first one, it fell to his right foot

:35:41. > :35:43.which is not the best from what I have heard. His left foot is very

:35:44. > :35:51.special but he's predominantly left footed. That was easily dealt with

:35:52. > :36:00.by the goalkeeper but it was this one I think where he he's got a real

:36:01. > :36:04.opportunity and shows composure. Lovely touch, goes around, I think

:36:05. > :36:11.it was McAuley, but in the end puts it over the bar. He's a bit

:36:12. > :36:15.off-balance. But the left foot especially he needs to get the right

:36:16. > :36:19.contact. Not too many moments were the heart was in the mouth, they

:36:20. > :36:26.have been pretty comfortable but Kapustka went close. It might have

:36:27. > :36:32.been a handball. Comes off the thigh of Kyle Lafferty but he does

:36:33. > :36:36.brilliantly, it's a great strike and Michael could not have seen it until

:36:37. > :36:41.late but he got a powerful hand on it and it's a fantastic save. That

:36:42. > :36:44.was always the worry, you are defending, you get worried that if

:36:45. > :36:51.Poland do get a call will it become two or three, we will have to come

:36:52. > :36:56.out. The next ten, 15 minutes is so important. That's the hard thing,

:36:57. > :36:59.the mentality, set up to defend and they are comfortable doing it. But

:37:00. > :37:02.if they go a goal down it's difficult to switch the mentality

:37:03. > :37:07.and switched to becoming an attacking team and to try to get

:37:08. > :37:13.back into the game. I don't see if Northern Ireland have the capability

:37:14. > :37:19.to do that. So the secret is? Don't concede! We will move all, Robert

:37:20. > :37:24.Lewandowski scored 13 goals in qualifying which is a joint record

:37:25. > :37:26.held with David Healy. He is the country's top scorer and this is his

:37:27. > :37:36.story. We used to come and watch Northern

:37:37. > :37:40.Ireland with my dad, coming as a kid you always dream about wanting to

:37:41. > :37:44.play their and when you start scoring the goals, mum and dad in

:37:45. > :37:50.the crowd, how proud he must have been seeing his son score so many

:37:51. > :37:55.goals. Even as a kid I still remember the careers teacher at

:37:56. > :38:00.school, what career do you want to do and I was like, I want to play

:38:01. > :38:05.football. But they said what do you actually want to do? I said I want

:38:06. > :38:10.to play football. It was always my dream to represent my country and I

:38:11. > :38:14.made my debut away in Luxembourg. I couldn't wait to get back to Windsor

:38:15. > :38:18.Park. That was my Wembley. To get the chance to play there was

:38:19. > :38:25.something which will live with me forever. Windsor Park in these, it

:38:26. > :38:31.is not what it was then, it was a bit more old-fashioned. The pitch

:38:32. > :38:35.wasn't great. The Kop end which is yet to be built was, I think the

:38:36. > :38:38.majority of goals I scored for Northern Ireland thankfully were

:38:39. > :38:43.down that end because that is where the loudest support was. A lot of

:38:44. > :38:53.very fond memories, scoring against Spain. What a finish! What a night

:38:54. > :39:03.for Northern Ireland and what a night for David Healy! Scoring

:39:04. > :39:10.against England. David Healy for Northern Ireland, real chance, and

:39:11. > :39:14.he scores! Talking to people, you would think I only scored one goal

:39:15. > :39:18.for Northern Ireland because people only talk about that one goal. The

:39:19. > :39:22.record of scoring goals for Northern Ireland, it was never that high for

:39:23. > :39:26.whatever reason. We created some really good footballers but never

:39:27. > :39:32.had a real who went on and scored 20, 30 goals. People started saying

:39:33. > :39:41.you might break the record to go on and beat it was incredible. European

:39:42. > :39:49.history for David Healy. 2008 we came close. I scored three against

:39:50. > :39:55.Blackburn Steyn and then played Sweden -- against Lichtenstein. I

:39:56. > :39:59.would have given up the 13 goals to play in the European Championships

:40:00. > :40:03.but we just didn't get the job done at the right times. Times have

:40:04. > :40:06.changed and for the better, the whole country has been united by a

:40:07. > :40:12.football team which will go to the European finals. Had an astonishing

:40:13. > :40:15.international career. Incredible, when you consider the leading

:40:16. > :40:22.goal-scorer before that was 12 or 13. Either it comes on the scene and

:40:23. > :40:26.ends up with 36 international goals in 50, 60 international is for a

:40:27. > :40:31.country like Northern Ireland. And he didn't have a phenomenal club

:40:32. > :40:36.career. It wasn't great but on the international stage he came alive.

:40:37. > :40:41.Windsor Park was material for him and he's a great kid. I remember

:40:42. > :40:48.playing against Denmark and he beat Schmeichel from yards out and I

:40:49. > :40:53.thought we had a player heel. -- a player here. Lets get some

:40:54. > :40:57.reflection from Chris Brunt. Northern Ireland have now conceded

:40:58. > :41:03.just one first-half goal in their last 21 games, what is your

:41:04. > :41:08.assessment? It's been OK. I think both teams are looking not to lose

:41:09. > :41:11.the game at the minute, in the first half anyway. I think we have

:41:12. > :41:15.defended pretty well, Michael McGovern had to make a great save

:41:16. > :41:19.but other than that he's not had too much to do. I think maybe a bit

:41:20. > :41:24.disappointed with how we have dealt with the ball when we've got it but

:41:25. > :41:27.we are still in the game, in the qualifying campaign we are used to

:41:28. > :41:32.having a bit less possession than the other team. As the game wears on

:41:33. > :41:36.it might suit us. Michael Neale prides himself on this being a team

:41:37. > :41:42.that is good without the ball and they certainly had to be -- Michael

:41:43. > :41:47.O'Neil. You can see the lads working hard for each other. Run through

:41:48. > :41:51.walls for each other. I think that's never in doubt, just need that bit

:41:52. > :41:55.more quality when we get the ball. It is warm down here so you don't

:41:56. > :41:59.want to be without the ball the whole game, try to take the sting

:42:00. > :42:03.out of things little bit. Plenty to talk about, hopefully we come out in

:42:04. > :42:07.the second half and get a few more things going forward. What will the

:42:08. > :42:17.message be from the manager at half-time? Keep it going, you are

:42:18. > :42:20.never out of the game,. As I say, I think going forward we need to hold

:42:21. > :42:24.onto the ball better and give ourselves a chance to get up the

:42:25. > :42:29.pitch and maybe get some set pieces where we can look dangerous. We have

:42:30. > :42:32.defended well, throwing bodies on the line at times and I think we

:42:33. > :42:38.just need to be a bit better when we have the ball. Thank you, here as a

:42:39. > :42:42.special guest is the great Pat Jennings, it's his birthday today

:42:43. > :42:46.and he would have been proud of that saved from Michael McGovern.

:42:47. > :42:51.Certainly would, one match early today in Group D, Turkey taking on

:42:52. > :43:09.Croatia here in Paris. Simon Brotherton is your commentator.

:43:10. > :43:20.Arda Turan staying on the ground. Now back up on his feet. The ball

:43:21. > :43:25.in, the goalkeeper just about kept it from going over the line. Turkey

:43:26. > :43:40.suddenly so close to taking the lead. Rakitic. Dangerous looking

:43:41. > :43:54.delivery. What a goal! Luka Modric for Croatia! The orchestrator in

:43:55. > :43:59.chief does the job! Up in the air, volleyed first time by Luka Modric.

:44:00. > :44:11.Superb strike, just out of reach for the goalkeeper. Rakitic, so elegant,

:44:12. > :44:20.strong and powerful. Has done unruly well here. -- done unruly well. Get

:44:21. > :44:26.the free kick just outside the penalty area. Just caught on the

:44:27. > :44:38.outside of the leg. It's off the bar! Superb strike. Agonisingly

:44:39. > :44:49.close to two. Modric keeping it simple but effective. Rakitic. What

:44:50. > :44:58.a chance that was! It really should be 2-0. And he knows it. Croatia

:44:59. > :45:13.with the one goal they scored, could have had two or three more.

:45:14. > :45:19.The game we are covering it is goalless at half-time and looks like

:45:20. > :45:20.they are ready to kick off so let's rejoin Gerry Armstrong and Guy

:45:21. > :45:30.Mowbray. COMMENTATOR: News of a substitution

:45:31. > :45:33.as Poland get ready to start the second half, Paddy McNair making way

:45:34. > :45:39.for Stuart Dallas for Northern Ireland. Stuart Dallas missed the

:45:40. > :45:45.final warm up game last weekend against Slovakia because he was

:45:46. > :45:51.getting married. I wonder if she is here on honeymoon? I hope she has

:45:52. > :45:53.something to cheer by the end of the evening. Straight involved, the

:45:54. > :46:05.Leeds United player. No changes for Poland, who will keep

:46:06. > :46:08.on plugging away. Another thing of note, just as the players were

:46:09. > :46:21.getting ready to retake the field, Lewandowski was chewing the referee

:46:22. > :46:23.-- the referee's ear off. It's been a frustrating time but he hasn't

:46:24. > :46:40.really had a clear chance. Kapustka, chased by Davis but to no

:46:41. > :46:53.avail. Confusion from Maczynski. All the way back to was the etched

:46:54. > :47:16.The Polish fans the first to get tuned into the second half.

:47:17. > :47:30.Immediate response from those in green.

:47:31. > :47:40.McLauchlin, looking for Dallas. You can see now why he's brought on

:47:41. > :47:44.Stuart Dallas. He's a very good athlete. He's come short to collect

:47:45. > :47:50.the ball off the full-back, Conor McLaughlin. He's put them under

:47:51. > :48:01.pressure and won a throw in. Davis, just a little too tight for

:48:02. > :48:15.that to work. Davis just having words with Oliver Norwood. Wanting a

:48:16. > :48:29.bit more help from infield. Krychowiak.

:48:30. > :48:46.Trying to thread one through to Lewandowski, but that is not the

:48:47. > :48:49.sort of service he's been getting old they -- that's the sort of

:48:50. > :48:53.service he's been getting all day, not the sort of service he's

:48:54. > :48:59.accustomed to getting in a Bayern Munich shirt. I think they might

:49:00. > :49:07.have to make a change in the middle of the park. Maczynski could be the

:49:08. > :49:11.man who comes off. 42 goals last season, Lewandowski. I was fortunate

:49:12. > :49:19.enough to see five of them in nine minutes, when he came on as a

:49:20. > :49:24.substitute for by Munich. One of the most extraordinary things I've seen

:49:25. > :49:31.on a football field. On at half-time and less than nine minutes later he

:49:32. > :49:39.had scored five himself! That's what you call an impact player! Kapustka

:49:40. > :49:49.finds Milik... Milik forced to take the Long Way round. There was no way

:49:50. > :49:56.round in the end. Again well-organised defending from

:49:57. > :50:09.Northern Ireland. Excellent run. Krychowiak, pestered by Davis.

:50:10. > :50:50.Well, it can't hurt them, when they are playing across the park in a

:50:51. > :50:55.game this frustrating... Northern Ireland starting to get them bit.

:50:56. > :51:06.But to good effect. That's a loose ball, picked off easily by Jonny

:51:07. > :51:14.Evans. Piszczek... Milik beads McGovern! Milik scores for Poland.

:51:15. > :51:18.It's been coming for some time. And when the ball is finally put in the

:51:19. > :51:28.Northern Ireland net it's because of an accomplished finish from

:51:29. > :51:34.Arkadiusz Milik. Poland one, Northern Ireland zero.

:51:35. > :51:45.They had the loose ball to pick up. It's cut back for Milik, he gets one

:51:46. > :51:51.touch inside the box, the ball goes through the defender's legs. It's

:51:52. > :52:00.his first touch and it does go through the legs of Craig Cathcart.

:52:01. > :52:06.I think he is an cited, Michael McGovern. But an excellent strike

:52:07. > :52:15.from Milik, 1-0 Poland. It has got Adam Nawalka up on the bench, his

:52:16. > :52:22.former World Cup team-mate Zibi Boniek celebrating in the stands.

:52:23. > :52:25.The Poles lead. If one doesn't get you, the other one will. This time

:52:26. > :52:31.Milik scores. Blaszczykowski did well on the wing as welcome his

:52:32. > :52:42.cross was excellent. Now Northern Ireland will have to be a lot more

:52:43. > :52:46.adventurous. You think maybe Kyle Lafferty needs a friend up there.

:52:47. > :52:54.There's two or three players warming up down below. Conor Washington and

:52:55. > :53:02.Jamie Ward is the other one. Will Grigg as well, but I have heard

:53:03. > :53:08.reports that he's on fire! They're certainly going to have to change

:53:09. > :53:11.the tactics. Cathcart dispossessed, Chris Baird

:53:12. > :53:19.. Northern Ireland have to come out and play a bit now. -- Chris Baird

:53:20. > :53:23.to heavens. They could only hold out for so long.

:53:24. > :53:50.McLaughlin. Shame, the idea was good. Good run from Stuart Dallas,

:53:51. > :54:01.the past just didn't quite find him. -- the pass.

:54:02. > :54:12.Lewandowski. Won by Cathcart, straight up into the air. Norwood,

:54:13. > :54:33.Evans. Evans had to improvise with the

:54:34. > :54:40.lift. Shane Ferguson unable to find Oliver Norwood. Lewandowski. There

:54:41. > :54:45.is now the danger, if Northern Ireland push up, will they be picked

:54:46. > :54:50.off? That is something Michael will want to avoid. They have to get a

:54:51. > :55:06.response in the next five or ten minutes.

:55:07. > :55:21.He is technically a very good player, Blaszczykowski. And he's not

:55:22. > :55:21.pleased with himself. On loan to Fiorentina from Borussia Dortmund

:55:22. > :55:35.last season. Spent some time under Jurgen Klopp's

:55:36. > :55:41.tutelage in Dortmund. Here is McLauchlin. His brother Ryan has

:55:42. > :55:50.just been freed by Liverpool. Kapustka, doing well to win it.

:55:51. > :56:01.Lewandowski. Under the boot of Kapustka. Davis... He's done well,

:56:02. > :56:10.really well. Lafferty does well too. Kapustka, Lewandowski. Davis does

:56:11. > :56:19.well again. The chance is still there. It should be a Northern

:56:20. > :56:24.Ireland throw and it is. I think he wanted to take the ball on, he had

:56:25. > :56:27.20 or 30 yards in front of him. Steve Davis does brilliant here,

:56:28. > :56:43.brilliant determination. Norwood, nice touch. And he was

:56:44. > :56:51.impeded. My first instinct is that that was intentional from Oliver

:56:52. > :56:56.Norwood. It looks like he's got sucked in. It's a free kick and a

:56:57. > :57:01.chance, as I say, Northern Ireland are very good at free kicks. He

:57:02. > :57:08.knocks it on and you can see Glik completely bundles it over. Gareth

:57:09. > :57:13.McAuley has come forward, as have Craig Cathcart. Northern Ireland

:57:14. > :57:28.were set piece Kings in qualifying. Norwood, a fine deliverer of the

:57:29. > :57:34.dead ball. Chris Baird on the move, McAuley poised. Evans is loitering.

:57:35. > :57:41.With intent. Width in by Norwood. That's not one of his best. --

:57:42. > :57:46.whipped in. Well, he needed to clear the man at the front.

:57:47. > :58:13.Lewandowski gets a decision. He doesn't feel he's had as many as he

:58:14. > :58:19.should have done in the game. He turns, nicks it asked him. That is

:58:20. > :58:35.why the free kick has been given. The Northern Ireland closing down

:58:36. > :58:45.just a little bit more intense now, it has got to be. Kapustka. Two

:58:46. > :58:51.closing down that time. Davis has given it back to Milik. Poor touch

:58:52. > :58:59.from Cathcart, cleared by Ferguson. Over to you, Kyle Lafferty. Lafferty

:59:00. > :59:04.on Glik, and he was on Glik, not really having any real chance of

:59:05. > :59:07.getting to the ball. I think Glik puts his arm across him and looks

:59:08. > :59:25.for the free kick. It is clever play. I think Kyle obliges.

:59:26. > :59:35.Blaszczykowski, there it goes Piszczek. Three in the middle,

:59:36. > :59:41.Piszczek makes his own way there. That's a bad late challenge. Milik

:59:42. > :59:47.has gone in late, and needlessly. Late challenge on Oliver Norwood.

:59:48. > :59:51.Frustration at the final ball, though. He comes sliding in, totally

:59:52. > :00:00.unnecessary. Michael McGovern now pushes a fume

:00:01. > :00:21.more forward. -- a few more. It's a really difficult ask for Kyle

:00:22. > :00:27.Lafferty. Those balls keep coming his way. If he does jump for them

:00:28. > :00:31.and win their header, he flicks them onto no man's land. Other times he

:00:32. > :00:37.feels he can't jump for them. They've got Josh Magennis and Jamie

:00:38. > :00:46.Ward warming up now. They are the two. Kapustka has grown into the

:00:47. > :00:58.game, the teenager for Poland. Not bad for a 19-year-old, is he?

:00:59. > :01:07.Krychowiak of Krakow, polar's oldest side.

:01:08. > :01:22.It's another throw which is contested. Milik has made his mark.

:01:23. > :01:37.Milik, Lewandowski, through to Kapustka. Conor McLaughlin went with

:01:38. > :01:42.him. Excellent cover. Giving a goal kick. Well caught by Conor

:01:43. > :01:47.McLaughlin, he followed the run of Kapustka all the way through, lovely

:01:48. > :01:53.pass from Lewandowski but again the defender is there to block it. I

:01:54. > :02:09.think my money was slightly on corner. I wouldn't disagree. Baird

:02:10. > :02:12.in a spot of bother there. More pace in the Poland attacks and more space

:02:13. > :02:44.in the Northern Ireland have for them. -- half.

:02:45. > :02:51.Steven Davis just with the arm, that is what has forced the hand of the

:02:52. > :02:57.referee. Didn't particularly force Croucher react to the floor. I think

:02:58. > :03:02.you stumbling anyway and he wants the free kick and he's got it. --

:03:03. > :03:17.Krychowiak. Blaszczykowski, Milik, looking for

:03:18. > :04:02.low endoscopy. -- Lewandowski. Poland will be content to do this

:04:03. > :04:05.for some time longer yet. They are in the driving seat, they have the

:04:06. > :04:13.one goal lead and can bide their time to try and go for a second. I

:04:14. > :04:20.think we are going to see a change. Looks like Conor Washington is ready

:04:21. > :04:37.to come into action. Craig Cathcart clearing.

:04:38. > :05:16.Easy ball across to Pazdan from Glik.

:05:17. > :05:25.Steven Davis is urging green shirted players to come out and help them

:05:26. > :05:34.close them down high up the field. The chance is on now. Won by Baird

:05:35. > :05:39.but he couldn't get going, the first yellow card of the game goes to

:05:40. > :05:46.Kapustka. It was a mistake capitalised on by Chris Baird and

:05:47. > :05:51.caput scout with the challenge from behind. He's not done badly at

:05:52. > :05:56.trying to get the ball to be fair to him but you can challenge from

:05:57. > :06:08.behind these days and he gets the yellow card. Conor Washington coming

:06:09. > :06:25.on. Kyle Lafferty will have strike partner. Change of formation, change

:06:26. > :06:27.of strategy, 4-4-2. His fifth cap overall and he has scored in two of

:06:28. > :06:45.his last three. Dallas. McAuley went for it. Pazdan

:06:46. > :06:50.went with him. Corner is the call. Excellent defending from Pazdan.

:06:51. > :06:55.Wonderful ball in from Stuart Dallas and look at the big centre-half

:06:56. > :07:03.getting up, Pazdan, it is headed by Gareth McAuley of the head of

:07:04. > :07:09.Pazdan. 66 minutes played, big moment, first corner of the match

:07:10. > :07:14.for Northern Ireland. McAuley trying to get out of the crowd, it's over

:07:15. > :07:18.him and Szczesny made absolutely sure, that's the punch of the

:07:19. > :07:23.tournament. That's gone a long, long way, that's what you want, length,

:07:24. > :07:29.distance, as far away from your penalty area as possible. It would

:07:30. > :07:32.do wonders for Northern Ireland's confidence if they can just spend a

:07:33. > :07:41.bit more time in the Polish half now. And fortunately not so

:07:42. > :07:49.proficient on his left foot, Stuart Dallas, as he is on his right.

:07:50. > :07:53.Potentially another lady tell in the making with Conor Washington playing

:07:54. > :07:57.on the stage having made his debut against Wales at the end of March.

:07:58. > :08:06.Not so long ago he was still working as a postman. -- potentially another

:08:07. > :08:14.fairy tale. Nicely collected by Blaszczykowski. Have cross, have

:08:15. > :08:19.shot, always wide. He is good, Blaszczykowski on this right-hand

:08:20. > :08:22.side. I think he's trying to whip it across for Sunday to slot it into

:08:23. > :08:32.the far post. But nobody is there, excellent break from Poland. One of

:08:33. > :08:37.the best players on the field. Easily. He is the reason why the

:08:38. > :08:42.first goal came around, he created the opportunity for Milik.

:08:43. > :08:48.Washington on the end of that. Lafferty felt he was caught.

:08:49. > :09:05.Definitely caught there. Yellow card for Craig Cathcart.

:09:06. > :09:12.It was a bit of the cruncher on Robert Lewandowski. Went through on

:09:13. > :09:19.him, caught him on the follow-through, certainly a free

:09:20. > :09:28.kick. Apologised straightaway. Chance for the players to take on

:09:29. > :09:30.some water. Much-needed water. It a warm old evening in Nice, sorry if

:09:31. > :09:57.you are under water at home. Krychowiak on the ball for Poland.

:09:58. > :10:05.1-0, just over 20 minutes of the game to go. The goal came early in

:10:06. > :10:17.the second half, scored by Milik of Ajax. Blaszczykowski. McAuley got in

:10:18. > :10:22.the way of the shot, McGovern scampering across to prevent the

:10:23. > :10:27.corner. Again, Blaszczykowski showing his style and technique,

:10:28. > :10:27.first touch was good, get it on the right foot and it's blocked,

:10:28. > :10:37.excellent block. McAuley really only has one way to

:10:38. > :11:09.go. Forward by Cathcart, Laverty winning

:11:10. > :11:16.at but again there is nobody to really direct it to. -- Lafferty.

:11:17. > :11:23.Nice touch from Milik. Blaszczykowski. He felt he was

:11:24. > :11:34.caught by Dallas, kept in by Piszczek. Cut out by McCulloch.

:11:35. > :11:38.Sorry, McLaughlin. Excellent touch from Washington, showing great pace.

:11:39. > :11:44.Szczesny shows great awareness to meet it. What an introduction that

:11:45. > :11:48.would have been for Conor Washington. Super piece of play down

:11:49. > :11:51.the right-hand side, second touch maybe a little bit heavy but

:11:52. > :11:56.Szczesny was quick to come out and grab the ball. Excellent goalkeeping

:11:57. > :12:04.from the Arsenal man. Which I suppose he still is. Last appearance

:12:05. > :12:14.in the Premier League was New Year's Day 2015.

:12:15. > :12:22.Made one appearance at the European Championship four years ago, on home

:12:23. > :12:29.soil, sent off against Greece, 1-1 draw. He timed that one spot on.

:12:30. > :12:36.Poland have never scored more than one in any game at these European

:12:37. > :12:42.finals. One might be all they need this evening. You made the point,

:12:43. > :12:46.the last two championships, still waiting for the victory. In the

:12:47. > :12:51.driving seat at the moment. The headed touch from Conor Washington,

:12:52. > :12:54.it's so tight at the end, the bravery from Szczesny, coming to

:12:55. > :12:59.collect the ball. Excellent goalkeeping.

:13:00. > :13:14.Baird. Lafferty down, free kick Northern Ireland.

:13:15. > :13:26.It's Piszczek. Some confusion, wondering if Michael McGovern should

:13:27. > :13:34.come up to take it but the thought better of it. Not sure myself. With

:13:35. > :13:46.five minutes to go, maybe. But not 18. McAuley was being crowded out.

:13:47. > :13:48.Krychowiak in front of him, he got the header and put it out for a

:13:49. > :14:07.throw. Across comes Evans to help out the

:14:08. > :14:13.struggling Cathcart, Evans against Lewandowski. All fair between them

:14:14. > :14:18.this time but a little nudge late on from Evans. Andy kick from behind

:14:19. > :14:28.from Lewandowski. Still no love lost. Pretty sure West Brom would be

:14:29. > :14:35.playing Bayern Munich next season. Shame, would love to see a reprisal

:14:36. > :14:36.between these two. Could be fun if Leicester draw them however couldn't

:14:37. > :15:02.it? Jedrzejczyk. Kapustka. Milik. Got

:15:03. > :15:10.the better of Baird, here is Blaszczykowski. Maczynski. The

:15:11. > :15:12.build-up was excellent but the finish from Maczynski was poor. Well

:15:13. > :15:36.off target. Teed up nicely. Coming up to the 30 minute mark of

:15:37. > :15:39.the second half. Here we are, eight miles away so from Monte Carlo and

:15:40. > :15:48.the time is right now for Northern Ireland to gamble.

:15:49. > :15:59.Something special attempted by Kyle Lafferty. This is the stage and the

:16:00. > :16:06.place to try it. Well, it sets -- he sets it up nicely. Goes for the

:16:07. > :16:09.bicycle kick. It's well off target. He hasn't really had to many

:16:10. > :16:16.opportunities, has he? He has to make them for himself. That's the

:16:17. > :16:24.problem. Chris Baird makes his way off. Well, it is gambled time. The

:16:25. > :16:29.holding man in the middle has gone off and Jamie Ward comes on, from

:16:30. > :16:36.Nottingham Forest. Much more forward minded player. He's going to tuck in

:16:37. > :16:37.just behind Lafferty. He makes these lovely little darting runs in the

:16:38. > :16:51.channel. Norwood, a little more defensive

:16:52. > :17:00.responsibility on Steve Davis now, as if there hasn't been already.

:17:01. > :17:10.Here is Davis. Great support coming from the green and white army.

:17:11. > :17:15.Willing their team on to get them a goal. Conor Washington thought they

:17:16. > :17:17.should have got a free kick there. I thought he was pushed in the back by

:17:18. > :17:46.this check. He was trying to poke it through to

:17:47. > :17:50.Kapustka. Washington just caught on his heels and allowed Glik to win it

:17:51. > :18:07.for Poland. Poland are going to make their first

:18:08. > :18:18.substitution of the match. Thomas Jodlowiec is going to come on. It is

:18:19. > :18:20.Krzysztof Maczynski who is coming off, the defensively minded

:18:21. > :18:26.midfielder who can play centre-back. He will try and hold it and keep it

:18:27. > :18:34.and make sure that Poland get the three points. I remember England

:18:35. > :18:51.doing that last night... That is a very good point.

:18:52. > :18:58.Gerry Armstrong's cup is never half empty, always half full. Correct!

:18:59. > :19:21.1-0 is not unsurmountable. We need a Mestella moment. I will

:19:22. > :19:28.settle for a nice moment, or a Nice one! It's come to McLaughlin, who

:19:29. > :19:31.seemed as surprised as we were. He seemed in a brilliant position at

:19:32. > :19:40.the back post. It's there, the defenders have gone to sleep. His

:19:41. > :19:44.first touch, just ricochets off him. Kapustka was two or three yards on

:19:45. > :19:56.the wrong side. Another Polish change, Jakub Blaszczykowski coming

:19:57. > :20:01.off and it's going to be Kamil Grosicki, who we expected to start

:20:02. > :20:05.the game but has been nursing an ankle problem. This is a pretty

:20:06. > :20:12.strong replacement for him. He plays in France with Rennes and has scored

:20:13. > :20:20.four goals in his last half a dozen international games for Poland. He

:20:21. > :20:30.scored two goals in his first 30 games for his nation. Then six in

:20:31. > :20:37.the last nine. For those against Gibraltar, I'm not saying that like

:20:38. > :20:47.they don't count, they do. -- four of those against Gibraltar.

:20:48. > :20:57.On the plus side I think Northern Ireland have defended really well

:20:58. > :21:00.against Lewandowski. But there are other players in the side who are

:21:01. > :21:05.very good attacking wise and one of them popped up with the goal. That

:21:06. > :21:09.is the difference between the two sides at the moment. The difference

:21:10. > :21:16.between the two sets of supporters is that there is a pampered --

:21:17. > :21:20.palpable sense of nervousness among the Polish and a party going on with

:21:21. > :21:29.the Northern Ireland! Blasted towards goal and that was Grosicki's

:21:30. > :21:36.first involvement. It's just nicked off the toe of Evans. It did.

:21:37. > :21:45.Confusion there between the two players.

:21:46. > :21:58.Cathcart is with Lewandowski. Lafferty is there to clear.

:21:59. > :22:05.Grosicki, left by Milik! Cathcart got in front of Lewandowski.

:22:06. > :22:15.Chance now for Milik! Took it away from Robert Lewandowski. He did.

:22:16. > :22:19.They both stop very quickly. I think they were both onside, yeah, they

:22:20. > :22:24.were. And Milik hits the target but good positioning from Michael

:22:25. > :22:31.McGovern. Still in the game with nine minutes to go. It could be a

:22:32. > :22:37.very lively nine. Listen to the Northern Ireland fans getting behind

:22:38. > :22:39.the team just at the right time. Good response by Poland supporters,

:22:40. > :22:57.scarves aloft, singing as well. They suffered great disappointment

:22:58. > :23:02.for years ago when, as co-hosts, they didn't get out of the group.

:23:03. > :23:07.They drew two games and lost one. Took the edge off the tournament in

:23:08. > :23:10.many ways, took some of the shine off. I think the pressure tells when

:23:11. > :23:16.you are host nation. France certainly have to cope with that and

:23:17. > :23:20.we saw it in their match against Romania. They'd come a late winner

:23:21. > :23:25.for them. You think about how far they've come since then. Euro 2012,

:23:26. > :23:29.Northern Ireland failed to pull of Ayhan finished fifth out of six in

:23:30. > :23:37.their qualifying group, only the Faroe Islands below them.

:23:38. > :23:48.Again, you can lose to the Faroe Islands and only improve, just ask

:23:49. > :23:54.Claudio Ranieri... It hasn't -- he hasn't done bad this season, I tell

:23:55. > :23:55.you. Krychowiak has found Grosicki. Lewandowski hanging back, Milik in

:23:56. > :24:01.the area. Jon Slowey Ek, forced to put it out.

:24:02. > :24:17.-- job there's a bit of a nervousness about

:24:18. > :24:39.Poland. They're hanging in there with seven minutes to go.

:24:40. > :25:01.McAuley, to McGovern. He is looking for Lafferty.

:25:02. > :25:08.Kapustka thought he had been fouled. Kapustka can't afford another foul,

:25:09. > :25:10.in the book as he is. Lafferty trying to run away from Pazdan but a

:25:11. > :25:25.good recovery from Michelle Pazdan. -- Michal Pazdan. Davis, to ward.

:25:26. > :25:32.Ward has to work and does that. Doesn't get lucky, though.

:25:33. > :25:36.Lewandowski has lost it. Lewandowski just guilty of following in with the

:25:37. > :25:44.tag along Oliver Norwood. He's done well, Oliver Norwood. Just catches

:25:45. > :25:51.him. Looks like an accident to me. He's looked out of sorts,

:25:52. > :25:56.Lewandowski. He doesn't get the same service for Poland as he gets for

:25:57. > :26:00.Bayern Munich. I know he scored five goals in nine minutes but this isn't

:26:01. > :26:09.the sort of platform it's going to happen on. Oliver Norwood over the

:26:10. > :26:14.ball. Good ball too, here is Davis! Couldn't sort the stride out. My

:26:15. > :26:22.goodness, what a clever free kick. Lovely ball down the channel. He

:26:23. > :26:26.lets it run. As you say can he can't sort his stride out and hit it first

:26:27. > :26:30.time. But that's a set play they've worked really well. Very good on

:26:31. > :26:34.their set play free kicks and he's inches away from making a good

:26:35. > :26:40.contact. Should he have taken a touch? Michael is just geeing them

:26:41. > :26:46.up, come on, we want one more last effort. First man to ever leave

:26:47. > :26:53.Northern Ireland to the European Championships. First to a major

:26:54. > :27:01.tournament wins 1986. -- since 1986. It's worked up to a point for him

:27:02. > :27:14.today. His team just need a break. I think they've won a throw in from

:27:15. > :27:18.that decision from the referee. Adam Nawalka is going to make his last

:27:19. > :27:20.change. A rather officious man in a suit was preventing him from doing

:27:21. > :27:45.it just then. The Kodiak, breezes away from

:27:46. > :27:47.Washington to shoot! -- Krychowiak. Krychowiak strong, aggressive,

:27:48. > :27:53.drives through the middle. It opens up for him and he has a crack from

:27:54. > :27:58.all 30 yards. That's not far away from the far post. Have a look at

:27:59. > :28:08.that, Michael McGovern was striding across. It didn't deviate, it went

:28:09. > :28:14.straight. It is the youngster, Kapustka, who is coming off.

:28:15. > :28:21.Kapustka off, having just enhanced his reputation over the last 87

:28:22. > :28:27.minutes. He did well, didn't he? Slawomir Peszko, once of Wolves,

:28:28. > :28:37.where he didn't exactly shine too much. Now back in his homeland, with

:28:38. > :28:52.Legia Gdansk. His time at Molineux was this set by a knee injury. --

:28:53. > :28:58.was beset. Met by Glik, won back in Northern Ireland by Stuart Dallas.

:28:59. > :29:03.Dallas on to it again, and he beats Piszczek and he's fouled by

:29:04. > :29:08.Piszczek. Excellent play, he's going to get him a yellow card. Clever,

:29:09. > :29:17.clever play. A lovely piece of passing movement and Stuart Dallas

:29:18. > :29:24.forced Piszczek into a yellow card. An opportunity for a good delivery

:29:25. > :29:31.here. Oliver Norwood's right foot. He needs a better delivery this

:29:32. > :29:38.time. Poland's turned to bring everybody back on defensive duties.

:29:39. > :29:52.What an end to the 90th minute. For Norwood, it's all about the right

:29:53. > :29:58.ball in. In it comes from Norwood but it's beaten everybody. The flag

:29:59. > :30:03.is up. Well, offside, well spotted. I think it was a flailing arm. It's

:30:04. > :30:24.going to be a free kick. For Poland. Adam Nawalka knows it's not won yet.

:30:25. > :30:30.The Polish national anthem, translated, goes by the title of

:30:31. > :30:34.Poland is not yet lost. But at the moment they have not yet won. We

:30:35. > :30:47.await what it says on the added time board with interest. Milik, out. An

:30:48. > :31:16.additional three minutes. Has to go the other way, surely?

:31:17. > :31:29.Evans thought about striding on. Steve Davis. McLaughlin.

:31:30. > :31:41.Cathcart. Good ball, here comes Szczesny, collides with his own man.

:31:42. > :31:46.Lafferty has the ball belted against him. I think Szczesny is in trouble,

:31:47. > :31:55.usually been brave and clattered into his own defender. I think both

:31:56. > :32:06.of them are in trouble. Szczesny didn't have catch Piszczek. Full

:32:07. > :32:10.momentum into the face of Piszczek. Don't think there's too much concern

:32:11. > :32:15.for the players, the Polish player 's main concern is whipping up the

:32:16. > :32:21.fans to help them. It was an excellent ball that needed to be

:32:22. > :32:27.dealt with. And it was by Szczesny. He was very positive. He's had

:32:28. > :32:31.little to do that everything he has done he has done excellently. And we

:32:32. > :32:47.haven't always said that about him in his Arsenal bays. -- days. But

:32:48. > :32:52.getting a run of games with Roma, it can bring your confidence back

:32:53. > :32:57.again. Piszczek is OK, even if he does think it is Thursday. Szczesny

:32:58. > :33:01.to launch it, the Polish fans getting ready to party. The Northern

:33:02. > :33:14.Ireland party will continue regardless. Almost time for them to

:33:15. > :33:18.paint the town red and white. The 90 minutes are up, whatever the referee

:33:19. > :33:23.ads for stoppage time. Last night it looked like it was all over and the

:33:24. > :33:34.goal came in the 91st, 92nd minute was it? Careless from Krychowiak.

:33:35. > :33:40.Might present just one final chance to get the ball forward. Good work

:33:41. > :33:46.to close down Jonny Evans however. Lewandowski still working for the

:33:47. > :33:55.team. Norwood, has to go along and has to go soon. Under pressure,

:33:56. > :33:59.giving the ball away. Don't forget will be long before time runs out

:34:00. > :34:05.for Northern Ireland in this one. -- don't think it will be long. Three

:34:06. > :34:10.and a half minutes of added time already played. Will be a little

:34:11. > :34:20.more because of the collision between Szczesny and Piszczek. Now

:34:21. > :34:29.it's got to go. Virtually the full length of the field. Helped on by

:34:30. > :34:45.Ward. Lafferty. Ward. Great challenge from Milik. Lewandowski,

:34:46. > :34:52.to Grosicki. Almost came to Peszko. That will do it for Poland! The

:34:53. > :34:58.other history makers, at the seventh attempt they finally win a game at

:34:59. > :35:04.the European Championships. A game they dominated. A game they only

:35:05. > :35:13.needed one goal to win. The goal scored by Arkadiusz Milik. Time to

:35:14. > :35:18.party for Poland were as for the men in green it's off to Lyon where they

:35:19. > :35:28.will have to try and get something against Ukraine. Final score Poland

:35:29. > :35:33.1-0 Northern Ireland. STUDIO: Not to be for Northern Ireland. Defeat,

:35:34. > :35:37.just the one goal. Defended valiantly for large parts of the

:35:38. > :35:42.match but never really looked like scoring. Some slight opportunities

:35:43. > :35:47.towards the latter stages of the game. Overall you have to say that

:35:48. > :35:51.Poland deserved the victory. Yes, I think from the first half they set

:35:52. > :35:55.the tone, the pace of the game. They looked like they had the intent to

:35:56. > :35:59.go on and win the game and score goals. It seemed to me like Northern

:36:00. > :36:05.Ireland came to just keep a clean sheet and take the draw and get the

:36:06. > :36:08.point. You would have been happy with that before the game but like

:36:09. > :36:13.we said at half-time, if Poland scored I could not see any chance of

:36:14. > :36:17.Northern Ireland getting back in the game and it proved that. They had a

:36:18. > :36:23.few have chances, often puffed but I think Poland were easily the better

:36:24. > :36:27.team, more composed. Look like a team with some confidence to go on

:36:28. > :36:31.and do something in this tournament. No criticism of the work ethic of

:36:32. > :36:36.Northern Ireland but perhaps a lack of quality? I think a lack of

:36:37. > :36:42.quality in the final third, the final ball, the half chances which

:36:43. > :36:48.came their way, they did not make the most of them. They set plays

:36:49. > :36:52.were poor. We touched on it at half-time, we said the next ten, 15

:36:53. > :36:56.minutes would be vital because we knew defending like that it's hard

:36:57. > :37:03.to raise the intensity after a 10-15 minute break. They got caught cold

:37:04. > :37:08.at the start of the second half. But Poland look a decent team? Yes, some

:37:09. > :37:14.decent players in the ranks and they play with intensity. They knew

:37:15. > :37:18.exactly what Northern Ireland's strengths where, the set pieces and

:37:19. > :37:24.the limited them throughout the game to as little as possible. Manage the

:37:25. > :37:28.game very well and when they did get the chance Milik was the man to put

:37:29. > :37:33.it away. How do you think the performance of Northern Ireland will

:37:34. > :37:38.be assessed back home? I think the fans and the people will be proud.

:37:39. > :37:41.If you are going to be analytical about it they probably could have

:37:42. > :37:47.passed the ball better, certainly in the final third, been a bit more

:37:48. > :37:52.patient. I don't think Kyle Lafferty got any decent service at all. But

:37:53. > :37:56.in terms of unit, defensively, they were excellent. The best they could

:37:57. > :38:03.give. And then Michael changed it and they opened up a little bit more

:38:04. > :38:15.and they still looked comfortable. The game opened up a little bit more

:38:16. > :38:18.but I always felt INAUDIBLE neither in Ireland will now have to

:38:19. > :38:24.get something from the game against Ukraine -- Northern Ireland. Yes,

:38:25. > :38:30.when they went to four at the back they looked like they had more about

:38:31. > :38:33.them. They need to open up and look like they will have a chance of

:38:34. > :38:39.scoring goals and will create something. Didn't do that in this

:38:40. > :38:44.game. Just the one goal in the game. It went to Milik, you picked out

:38:45. > :38:52.before the match as talented. Yes, he's an obvious talent. Moves into

:38:53. > :38:56.lovely areas of the pitch and places you can pick him up. Fantastic

:38:57. > :39:01.strike on him as well and it was his goal in the second half which was

:39:02. > :39:05.going to be so important for Northern Ireland to be solid in that

:39:06. > :39:11.period. The break almost did them more harm than good. An opportunity

:39:12. > :39:17.for Poland to break them down. We have highlighted Norwood here, he

:39:18. > :39:23.gets sucked in, into a bad position. Once they get here, Poland, Milik is

:39:24. > :39:27.so clever. Pulling off into a little area of space and the back four keep

:39:28. > :39:32.dropping towards the six yard box and he has this good eight yards of

:39:33. > :39:36.space to work in. Whose responsibility is it to pick him up,

:39:37. > :39:40.one of the defenders to come out or one of the midfielders to get back?

:39:41. > :39:43.In my point of view it's the defender coming on to it because

:39:44. > :39:48.he's already the other side of the midfield. Cause Norwood got caught

:39:49. > :39:53.following the ball, the break is on. You still have Cathcart there, he

:39:54. > :39:58.must see the man. Milik is good coming onto things late. Body

:39:59. > :40:03.position is the killer for Cathcart, he is facing his own goal at one

:40:04. > :40:09.point and can see what's going on. If he turns and faces it and the

:40:10. > :40:13.person buying him start talking and guiding him, but that's a problem

:40:14. > :40:18.when you're a defender. A lot of the time you want to defend the front

:40:19. > :40:21.post space. Your natural position, you would have defensive midfielder

:40:22. > :40:28.on the edge of the box but Norwood was caught and was on the wrong

:40:29. > :40:34.side. Then it became a big problem. At times in football, and you know,

:40:35. > :40:38.midfield runners get done. It is up to the centre-half to deal with it.

:40:39. > :40:44.Midfielders are lazy like that! LAUGHTER

:40:45. > :40:50.Let's hear from Steven Davis. Can you sum up your disappointment at

:40:51. > :40:55.losing your game? Disappointing, it was difficult for us, we needed to

:40:56. > :40:59.be braver and better on the ball. We will have to do better than that to

:41:00. > :41:04.get anything from the group but it's been a learning curve for us. How

:41:05. > :41:09.does this defeat changer approach to the next game against Ukraine with

:41:10. > :41:14.the world champions Germany coming up in the final game? We always knew

:41:15. > :41:18.the first two games would be important, we gave all, but in the

:41:19. > :41:22.end it wasn't good enough. We defended reasonably well but we need

:41:23. > :41:27.to be better on the ball and creates chances. That was the disappointing

:41:28. > :41:32.thing today. If Northern Ireland where to get anything out of this

:41:33. > :41:37.game, it was a whisker away from having an opportunity to score. We

:41:38. > :41:43.were off our seats, great free kick, very cute. Running across the front

:41:44. > :41:48.of the defenders was really good, but the ball had pace on it or he

:41:49. > :41:53.didn't sort out his feet quick enough. Everyone thought they were

:41:54. > :41:57.going to put the ball into the back post, but it was very clever. Just

:41:58. > :42:01.seems to misread the run of the ball. He just doesn't adjust his

:42:02. > :42:06.feet, the weight of the pass is good, he seems to let it run away

:42:07. > :42:11.from him too much. It coming into him, it's there to be hit and he

:42:12. > :42:15.just let it run away from him on the stretch. I thought it was

:42:16. > :42:18.beautifully worked. Washington blocked the runner and I thought it

:42:19. > :42:23.was a really well worked free kick unfortunately they didn't get

:42:24. > :42:26.anything from it. You talked about the significance of set pieces

:42:27. > :42:30.before the match and when they got in those positions the delivery

:42:31. > :42:34.wasn't right. The management will be pulling their hair right, they got

:42:35. > :42:41.to this stage being really efficient in this area but here, hitting the

:42:42. > :42:46.first man. Neil, you're screaming in the studio when this happened. Get

:42:47. > :42:50.players around the goalkeeper, get bodies there, cause confusion. But

:42:51. > :42:54.the ball never went into the danger area. It's so disappointing when you

:42:55. > :42:58.get so few opportunities to put the opposition under pressure they never

:42:59. > :43:03.really did it. We are looking for scraps in terms of chances for

:43:04. > :43:06.Northern Ireland, a couple of other, sort of opportunities we could

:43:07. > :43:12.describe them as. Certainly the latter one. This is an opportunity

:43:13. > :43:16.but I think it's good goalkeeping, Szczesny comes out and read the

:43:17. > :43:20.situation and is very brave. These chances came from changing the

:43:21. > :43:24.formation. The players seemed a lot happier. He's unlucky because it's

:43:25. > :43:27.not a terrible touch but the goalkeeper reads it well. And this

:43:28. > :43:34.one pretty much shows the desperation level from Kyle

:43:35. > :43:38.Lafferty. Not had a kick, lack of opportunities. Could have laid it

:43:39. > :43:43.off and try to get a cross in, trying to score an overhead kick

:43:44. > :43:47.from 30 yards, doesn't happen often. We are going to pop back to the

:43:48. > :43:52.stadium where we can talk to Chris Brunt. Your reflections of that

:43:53. > :43:57.game? I have been listening to you talk there, I think you have summed

:43:58. > :44:01.it up. We didn't create and off a lot. We looked a bit more dangerous

:44:02. > :44:05.when Conor Washington came on and we had two laptop. As you say we were

:44:06. > :44:11.just feeding on scraps. The set piece where Steve did not get a

:44:12. > :44:17.touch on the ball and it ran away from him was probably our best

:44:18. > :44:20.opportunity. In terms of effort and application no criticisms?

:44:21. > :44:24.Absolutely not, it's very warm in the stadium and you could see it was

:44:25. > :44:28.taking its toll on some of the guys towards the end but I don't think

:44:29. > :44:32.application or effort would ever be a doubt. That is what we build

:44:33. > :44:40.ourselves on. I think maybe the lads and Michael will be at just a bit

:44:41. > :44:44.disappointed with how we played. A bit of a reality check in some ways

:44:45. > :44:48.playing against some of Europe's top teams, how will the manager address

:44:49. > :44:53.things going into the next game against Ukraine? I think he will

:44:54. > :44:56.look at it as another game. There is a lot more pressure on this one,

:44:57. > :45:01.need to go out and try to win the game because obviously you want to

:45:02. > :45:04.get something on the board early doors but I don't like the

:45:05. > :45:09.preparation will change too much. Each games been carefully prepared

:45:10. > :45:13.before it will take time tomorrow to recover and reflect on things and

:45:14. > :45:19.pick out bits and pieces we could do better. I'm sure by the time Ukraine

:45:20. > :45:25.comes we will be ready. Facts are talking to us, hope things improve

:45:26. > :45:29.going into the last two games. One player who impressed us I think

:45:30. > :45:34.looking at it in terms of the Polish perspective was the youngster

:45:35. > :45:37.Kapustka who looked impressive. Apparently his name translates as

:45:38. > :45:39.little cabbage and he certainly seems to have a lot of layers to his

:45:40. > :45:52.game! Well put, Gary! His technique in the

:45:53. > :45:56.first half was very good, explosive. He showed glimpses in the second

:45:57. > :46:00.half, where in tight situations he had the awareness and composure to

:46:01. > :46:05.bring other people into the game. If he continues like this, I don't

:46:06. > :46:09.think his club will see too much of him next season, to be honest. It's

:46:10. > :46:14.those little touches, Rio, you can just look at a player and say he

:46:15. > :46:20.knows what it's about he's got that special touch to his game, the

:46:21. > :46:25.awareness to his game. He's just... Like we keep saying, we're not going

:46:26. > :46:30.to be surprised at all if he goes on and someone snaps him up in the

:46:31. > :46:33.future. For Poland today he was brilliant and obviously for the

:46:34. > :46:38.Northern Irish he was a thorn in their side constantly. He's only 19

:46:39. > :46:42.and he's playing with great maturity. Northern Ireland were on

:46:43. > :46:50.the break and he took out Chris Baird, he took a foul for his team.

:46:51. > :46:55.It was a good foul. Already he is very mature at 19. I think we're

:46:56. > :46:58.going to see a number of young players emerge at this European

:46:59. > :47:01.Championships, there seems to be a plethora of young talent coming

:47:02. > :47:04.through. That's what you want to look forward to as a fan, new talent

:47:05. > :47:07.coming through and the established guys producing moments of brilliance

:47:08. > :47:12.as well. I'm really interested to see how he does. We know about

:47:13. > :47:18.Lewandowski and the established guys in that team, Milik. He is another

:47:19. > :47:22.one we can start talking about. If you're the Northern Ireland manager,

:47:23. > :47:26.you've played a certain way, you can call if parking the bus or sitting

:47:27. > :47:32.back deep. Now you've lost your opening game, does he have to change

:47:33. > :47:38.his mentality? Do they set up the same? I think he will change it. I

:47:39. > :47:42.don't think Ukraine are as good as Poland. After that you're looking at

:47:43. > :47:48.Germany and it's a big ask. I think they might go into this game a bit

:47:49. > :47:52.more positive. OK, we can hear from Northern Ireland Centre forward Kyle

:47:53. > :47:58.Lafferty. Kyle, were Northern Ireland slightly overawed by the

:47:59. > :48:08.occasion today? I think so. Michael O'Neill has had us organised and we

:48:09. > :48:12.have lacked some fight and determination today. How frustrating

:48:13. > :48:16.for you not to be able to get on the ball despite a very valiant

:48:17. > :48:19.defensive performance first half? Obviously we knew it was going to be

:48:20. > :48:25.tough. I knew it would be a tough game for our defenders. The balls

:48:26. > :48:30.were coming up to me were hard to get hold of. I'm not going to blame

:48:31. > :48:33.anyone else. I think the whole performance was not a Northern

:48:34. > :48:39.Ireland performance. We will all look at it and I think on Thursday

:48:40. > :48:44.we will go all out and go into the final game against Germany fighting

:48:45. > :48:49.for something. What can you change going forward? I think the fight and

:48:50. > :48:53.the determination and the heart. We're lucky to wear this shirt,

:48:54. > :48:56.every single player to wear this shirt. Unfortunately we didn't turn

:48:57. > :49:01.up today. Michael will have a word with us, he will speak the truth and

:49:02. > :49:09.we will take note of it and I'm sure we will have a more determined

:49:10. > :49:13.performance full of heart on Thursday. Pretty honest assessment

:49:14. > :49:18.there. He's clearly upset. I think he's being a bit harsh, to tell you

:49:19. > :49:26.the truth. The players played with great heart but what they lacked was

:49:27. > :49:29.a bit of composure on the ball. Just that bit more patients particularly

:49:30. > :49:34.in the second half. When you jump up a level that much, it's easier said

:49:35. > :49:38.than done, isn't it? Absolutely, 100%. But they will have had a taste

:49:39. > :49:41.of it and hopefully they will take on board what they could have done

:49:42. > :49:45.better and take that into the Ukraine game. I think they will take

:49:46. > :49:49.confidence from the second half. There were moments when you thought

:49:50. > :49:54.they might get back into it, they were on the cusp of creating

:49:55. > :49:57.something. They got more bodies around Kyle Lafferty to give him

:49:58. > :50:01.help. When you've got an extra body update you can start making a

:50:02. > :50:05.difference and putting yourself about and it gives you time to go up

:50:06. > :50:09.the pitch as a team. When you're working that hard as well, you want

:50:10. > :50:14.the reward and that's what they've had in the qualifiers, defending as

:50:15. > :50:18.a team and as a unit. Getting those set pieces and creating something.

:50:19. > :50:21.You're prepared to put the graft in whereas today they were working on

:50:22. > :50:26.scraps because Poland gave them nothing. Can Poland be a threat in

:50:27. > :50:29.this tournament? I only ask because I got them in the sweep!

:50:30. > :50:38.LAUGHTER They were one of my dark horses when

:50:39. > :50:42.I was asked. You did name about 17 -- seven teams! I did hedge my bets

:50:43. > :50:48.everywhere else as well. But they've got good attacking players, they got

:50:49. > :50:52.the ball wide down the right-hand side well. They are a decent team.

:50:53. > :50:55.It's a tough group with Germany. We will see how they play against

:50:56. > :51:05.Germany, that will tell us where they are at. In just under half an

:51:06. > :51:09.hour world champions Germany open up their campaign.

:51:10. > :51:17.COMMENTATOR: It's Germany who roll on again.

:51:18. > :51:28.It is seven! Germany are champions of the world!

:51:29. > :51:39.And there are the Germans arriving. Coverage begins on BBC One in about

:51:40. > :51:42.half an hour's time, at 7:35pm. Hopefully you will join us for that

:51:43. > :51:48.one. Always an interesting watch, always competitive, Germany. The

:51:49. > :51:51.Germans always seem to get it right and turn up and be competitive at

:51:52. > :51:56.tournaments to get to the latter stages. They've got that mentality,

:51:57. > :51:59.it seems like they are born with it. They've got some really talented

:52:00. > :52:04.players, great footballers, but also they are a well oiled machine.

:52:05. > :52:09.They've been a little bit fragile leading up to the tournament but I

:52:10. > :52:15.think they just do that, don't they? They do that and then bang! They

:52:16. > :52:20.beat Italy 4-0, I think, in one of the friendlies, and then they go and

:52:21. > :52:24.lose to Slovakia 3-1 at home. Maybe they are just trying a few things

:52:25. > :52:27.out. At tournaments I they predominantly get it right. Just

:52:28. > :52:42.look at some of the names in their ranks. Draxler, Andre Shola,

:52:43. > :52:45.Khedira. Ozil, Neu, but they have lost a few players since then to

:52:46. > :52:49.injuries? They have and it can hurt them but I think they will still

:52:50. > :52:55.have a good tournament. I think defensively as their weakness but

:52:56. > :52:59.you've got to get the ball off them first. You have to get the ball and

:53:00. > :53:01.then have good quality on the ball to expose that. That's been the

:53:02. > :53:06.problem for most teams they've played against. We will find out

:53:07. > :53:16.very shortly how strong the Germans are. Jermaine, thank you very much,

:53:17. > :53:19.Neil, and Rio... That's it from us. We will be back shortly with

:53:20. > :53:22.Germany. They haven't won a tournament for... Two years. See you

:53:23. > :53:30.soon. COMMENTATOR: It's going to be the

:53:31. > :53:34.captain, Steven Davis, who has the honour of kicking a ball at an

:53:35. > :53:35.international tournament for Northern Ireland for the first time

:53:36. > :53:53.in 32 years. Piszczek, and now Milik! Milik

:53:54. > :54:01.scores for Poland.