:01:03. > :01:14.Welcome to Nice. Northern Ireland in the Euros for the first time in 30
:01:15. > :01:16.years, they take on Poland. I am Guy Mowbray and joining me is Jerry
:01:17. > :02:07.Adams strong. -- Gerry Adams strong. It is the Romanian refereeing team.
:02:08. > :02:23.For Arsenal fans, he is the man who sent off Olivier Giroud.
:02:24. > :02:35.Michael O'Neill surprised some by reverting to the back four. The team
:02:36. > :02:48.is led by Stephen Davis. Spearheaded by Kyle Langford E.
:02:49. > :02:57.Northern Ireland is particularly adept at shutting teams out. Might
:02:58. > :02:58.not be quite so easy against a team that scored so many goals in
:02:59. > :03:33.qualifying. Fittingly it will be the captain
:03:34. > :03:36.Steven Davis who has the honour of kicking the ball at a major
:03:37. > :03:39.tournament for Northern Ireland Many of the games have started
:03:40. > :03:49.at quite a brisk pace, I think both sides have gone bit
:03:50. > :03:55.more defensively minded, it's the same old eulogy of not
:03:56. > :03:59.wanting to lose your opening game and trying to hold onto what you've
:04:00. > :04:02.got but I think the game will develop and evolve
:04:03. > :04:06.over the 20 minutes. Gareth McAuley has left
:04:07. > :04:14.the first mark of the game, The referee is calling for cool
:04:15. > :04:23.heads and calm. It was a late challenge on Milik,
:04:24. > :04:37.who is a bright young star at Ajax. Tried to put it in but couldn't
:04:38. > :04:51.beat Steven Davis, Piszczek has to rely on the help
:04:52. > :05:04.of Szczesny, who was quick Jonny Evans only succeeds in giving
:05:05. > :05:15.the ball to Blaszczykowski. Shane Ferguson of Millwall gets
:05:16. > :05:21.the ball out of play. Naturally left footed,
:05:22. > :05:28.he gives them a bit more balance on that left-side playing
:05:29. > :05:39.in front of Jonny Evans. Milik, strong enough
:05:40. > :05:59.to keep the ball. The rightback arrived
:06:00. > :06:09.at the right time but couldn't Excellent play on this right-hand
:06:10. > :06:14.side, overlap from Lukasz Piszczek. Out for a corner kick,
:06:15. > :06:17.early pressure from Poland. It seems that Piszczek does
:06:18. > :06:22.like to get forward. He started out as a striker,
:06:23. > :06:28.the Borussia Dortmund man. Kept in by Blaszczykowski,
:06:29. > :06:39.under pressure from Norwood. Here comes Ferguson to win
:06:40. > :06:45.the ball clearly. Szczesny with a high
:06:46. > :06:53.starting position again. Was a bit of a toss of a coin
:06:54. > :06:57.for Adam Nawalka for Artur Boruc of Bournemouth settled
:06:58. > :07:26.in third place these days. Milik wants the ball
:07:27. > :08:07.in the middle and Lewandowski Really putting pressure
:08:08. > :08:22.on Northern Ireland's defence. Their defence has held firm
:08:23. > :08:24.though far and polling restricted to shooting
:08:25. > :08:25.from outside the box. Ferguson blocks,
:08:26. > :08:29.Blaszczykowski fired. Piszczek, missed
:08:30. > :08:55.by Milik first time. Going to bounce now.
:08:56. > :08:56.N Ireland really have put in some good
:08:57. > :08:58.crosses from either flank. Kyle Lafferty forces the defender
:08:59. > :09:05.to put that one out. Kyle Lafferty, a real enigma
:09:06. > :09:07.of a player. Didn't kick a ball last season,
:09:08. > :09:10.frozen out when he went to Birmingham, and yet a regular
:09:11. > :09:17.scorer at international level. Northern Ireland have been
:09:18. > :09:19.there before with David Healy Yeah, we pop up with
:09:20. > :09:25.someone every tournament! That was good play, he put him under
:09:26. > :09:31.pressure and forced him. There we see the chance
:09:32. > :09:33.again, Milik swings at it Wasn't a particularly good
:09:34. > :09:50.challenge by Cathcart. Jonny Evans claims that Lewandowski
:09:51. > :10:09.threw the arm back towards him Lewandowski the main man,
:10:10. > :10:15.he has scored more goals than the whole of the Northern
:10:16. > :10:17.Ireland team put together, But I think it takes more than just
:10:18. > :10:25.one man to win a game. So far it's an orthodox five
:10:26. > :10:28.at the back, not wingbacks, Poland are overlapping
:10:29. > :10:35.players like this on the left-hand side
:10:36. > :10:37.and they are putting crosses There will be a little
:10:38. > :10:53.bit of respite here. Closed down very quickly
:10:54. > :11:05.on this right-hand side. Piszczek likes to get forward,
:11:06. > :11:09.he's an attacking full-back. We're talking 30 years ago,
:11:10. > :11:14.Gerry, 34 years. How many beers have you been bought
:11:15. > :11:18.because of that goal against Spain? I think I've put on about
:11:19. > :11:21.three stone since then! Can you imagine how many
:11:22. > :11:24.beers that is? Gerry, like everybody
:11:25. > :11:34.supporting Northern Ireland, will be hoping that that goal will,
:11:35. > :11:37.in a few weeks' time, no longer be the most famous scored
:11:38. > :11:51.by his countrymen. Poland throw, Lukasz
:11:52. > :12:09.Piszczek will take it. Didn't get the angle,
:12:10. > :12:16.didn't get the shot on target. There was one mistake there,
:12:17. > :12:21.Conor McLaughlin sells himself short but look how quickly the others
:12:22. > :12:24.are coming to close him down He dives in too early,
:12:25. > :12:31.doesn't give away the free kick. When the cross comes in I like how
:12:32. > :12:37.quickly he is pressurised there. Jonny Evans squeezing
:12:38. > :12:43.Milik, the defender. Poland getting some joy down
:12:44. > :12:50.the sides with their full-backs, That was the intended
:12:51. > :13:15.recipient but he sold short. Lewandowski won't leap
:13:16. > :13:18.for that one, Ferguson heads Jedrzejczyk on this left-hand side,
:13:19. > :13:35.coming in as a left-back replacing the injured player,
:13:36. > :13:38.he's a right footed player and you can see that, he keeps
:13:39. > :13:43.checking in on his right foot. There is Jedrzejczyk,
:13:44. > :13:46.using his left, not to great effect although there was some spin
:13:47. > :13:48.on the ball but pushed He doesn't look as good on his left
:13:49. > :13:59.foot as he does on his He prefers to check
:14:00. > :14:08.back on his right. Blaszczykowski was being urged to go
:14:09. > :14:26.sooner than he did by Krychowiak. Played predominantly
:14:27. > :14:45.as a rightback central defender. Poland just being a little more
:14:46. > :14:49.patient now, still continuing to boss the game in terms
:14:50. > :14:57.of moving the ball around. I wouldn't be surprised to see how
:14:58. > :15:01.composed they are in possession. The surprise was that they
:15:02. > :15:06.had never won a game at the European Championships
:15:07. > :15:09.new consider their great players. I think that those them
:15:10. > :15:11.under more pressure. It's been talked about at the last
:15:12. > :15:15.two European Championships. Most of that on the
:15:16. > :15:29.shoulders of Lewandowski. Kapustka thought he might
:15:30. > :15:34.be able to keep that He's 25 yards from goal,
:15:35. > :15:43.Blaszczykowski, when He needs to get closer to the byline
:15:44. > :15:48.to put a better cross in to give That is what Michael O'Neill has
:15:49. > :15:52.done well, you don't go 12 games unbeaten qualifying without having
:15:53. > :15:54.a bit of organisation Bounce off the referee,
:15:55. > :16:08.didn't quite go for Norwood Put under pressure, Lafferty now
:16:09. > :16:29.turns his attentions to Glik. Northern Ireland are starting to
:16:30. > :16:38.play a bit of football themselves. They need to keep
:16:39. > :16:41.possession more. What a proud moment
:16:42. > :16:54.it is for Fleetwood Town. Must be the only Fleetwood Town
:16:55. > :16:58.player I know to have played Craig Cathcart another
:16:59. > :17:18.one who has done well. Fleetwood fans will be equally as
:17:19. > :17:21.proud if and when Jamie Vardy gets I thought he would have
:17:22. > :17:30.featured last night. Plenty of experience although he has
:17:31. > :18:02.never been at one of these before. He must have thought this sort
:18:03. > :18:11.of thing would never happen to him. He's popped up with seven goals
:18:12. > :18:15.for his country and that's a very I think only Sergio Ramos,
:18:16. > :18:30.with ten goals, has done better. Gareth McAuley probably fares rather
:18:31. > :18:33.better in the red card front He has been sent off a lot
:18:34. > :18:39.for Real Madrid but not so much for his national team,
:18:40. > :18:40.Spain. A glance between the referee
:18:41. > :19:08.and his assistant. Szczesny who spent most of last
:19:09. > :19:11.season on loan at Roma, He is more of a defensive
:19:12. > :19:56.midfield player, Maczynski, Played some really good football,
:19:57. > :20:06.got himself in a good position and the ricochet comes off
:20:07. > :20:08.Conor McLaughlin and it's one of his own team-mates and goes
:20:09. > :20:11.out for a goal kick. That's a bit unfortunate
:20:12. > :20:13.from his point of view but there are so many green jerseys
:20:14. > :20:16.coming to close him down, it's a well-organised performance
:20:17. > :20:38.so far from Northern Ireland. Ferguson, first chance
:20:39. > :20:40.he has had for a Paddy McNair was hoping for some
:20:41. > :21:08.sort of service from Lafferty. Ferguson didn't really have any
:21:09. > :21:22.option other than the early ball Yes but you can see Northern Ireland
:21:23. > :21:26.starting to evolve, settle down A bit more encouraging
:21:27. > :21:38.going forward. Worth pointing out that
:21:39. > :21:40.Northern Ireland entered the tournament on a run of 12 games
:21:41. > :21:43.unbeaten, which is the best run Blaszczykowski wins
:21:44. > :21:57.the corner for Poland. Initially a good challenge
:21:58. > :21:59.from Ferguson, Blaszczykowski does very well but the cover
:22:00. > :22:09.from Evans is super. Have seen teams defend without a man
:22:10. > :22:12.on the post in quite a lot of the games we have seen so far
:22:13. > :22:16.but Ferguson has gone to the back That was never hitting
:22:17. > :22:24.the back post. Disappointing from a Polish
:22:25. > :22:26.point of view, the two centre-halves coming forward,
:22:27. > :22:29.Krychowiak is good in the To counter the line on the form
:22:30. > :22:38.of Northern Ireland, Poland pretty impressive themselves, only losing
:22:39. > :22:46.two of the last 20 games. You can see why with
:22:47. > :22:48.what we have seen so Can't see why when you have him
:22:49. > :23:03.on the field, Lewandowski. Lafferty winning it
:23:04. > :23:06.in the air and chasing Yes, I would like to see service
:23:07. > :23:17.coming into him better We heard that from Rory McIlroy
:23:18. > :23:21.before the game, talking about Northern
:23:22. > :23:39.Ireland's sporting legends. You would think Kyle Lafferty would
:23:40. > :23:42.be the favourite up front. Armstrong, Hamilton, Clark, George
:23:43. > :24:03.Best never got to play at a major finals. He was special. Just a bit.
:24:04. > :24:06.The referee was happy to let that continue but not once he felt
:24:07. > :24:12.Krychowiak wasn't getting an advantage.
:24:13. > :24:14.He's a powerful figure in
:24:15. > :24:26.It had to be headed behind, it was wicked from
:24:27. > :24:34.I don't think Chris Baird could do much else.
:24:35. > :24:42.Michael McGovern has not had to make a save so far.
:24:43. > :24:54.Blaszczykowski to deliver for Poland.
:24:55. > :24:59.They are in, they are out, they are all over the place
:25:00. > :25:22.Jonny Evans sliding in, took the ball
:25:23. > :25:28.Wins the ball and it's definitely a goalkick.
:25:29. > :25:30.It has come off the Polish player last, Blaszczykowski.
:25:31. > :25:47.Nice bit of adjustment from Gareth McAuley to clear.
:25:48. > :26:06.Lewandowski has gone down after a collision with Evans
:26:07. > :26:10.Now slowly back to his feet, the number nine.
:26:11. > :26:14.Just at the edge of the penalty area, the
:26:15. > :26:17.That is two brushes between Evans and
:26:18. > :26:25.Jonny Evans coming across saying it was accidental.
:26:26. > :26:49.The green and white army is in fine voice.
:26:50. > :27:02.Northern Ireland in qualifying had the second lowest possession of
:27:03. > :27:07.teams that have made it to the tournament,
:27:08. > :27:09.but the most scoring attempts in their qualifying group
:27:10. > :27:13.which shows you that the game is changing.
:27:14. > :27:18.18 goals in ten qualifying games I think is very credible.
:27:19. > :27:28.The attack down the left-hand side well
:27:29. > :27:49.Poland have had two thirds of the ball.
:27:50. > :27:55.And three times as many shots, there or thereabouts, passes rather.
:27:56. > :28:04.Probably three times as many shots as well.
:28:05. > :28:21.Pushing players forward, wide left and wide
:28:22. > :28:33.right, trying to get the right service into Lewandowski.
:28:34. > :29:07.Michael McGovern not in any great hurry to get the ball away.
:29:08. > :29:09.I'm sure Michael O'Neill will have told his
:29:10. > :29:20.Absolutely, longer it goes like that the better it will
:29:21. > :29:38.Lewandowski gone down again, the referee was in a good position
:29:39. > :29:54.Isn't fussed whatsoever by the challenge from Lafferty.
:29:55. > :29:56.Fair challenge, and excellent goalkeeping
:29:57. > :30:37.Here is Jedrzejczyk, he will want it on his
:30:38. > :30:42.He's crossed it three times with his left foot and
:30:43. > :30:46.it's been poor, you can see he's not natural on the left side and that's
:30:47. > :30:53.why he's checking back on his right foot.
:30:54. > :30:56.That bodes well for Northern Ireland as Shane Ferguson, a little
:30:57. > :30:58.and large show they are but showing a lot of determination.
:30:59. > :31:37.In that deeper role, Milik, again the run
:31:38. > :31:40.Just starting to see a bit of frustration from
:31:41. > :31:58.I don't think Pazdan was too impressed by the challenge from
:31:59. > :32:03.Lewandowski, through the legs of Baird.
:32:04. > :32:15.Good run from Milik, does really well,
:32:16. > :32:16.change of direction on
:32:17. > :32:21.Decent effort well covered by Michael McGovern.
:32:22. > :32:31.First real shot on target and it's taken 28 minutes.
:32:32. > :32:45.Evans, had more time than it at first appeared he had.
:32:46. > :33:12.Very nice control, to shift the ball away from Kapustka.
:33:13. > :33:15.Lafferty was so concerned with Glik that he couldn't get any timing into
:33:16. > :33:20.I would like to see them hit him on the chest
:33:21. > :33:23.with the ball, hold the ball up then he will get supporting play from
:33:24. > :33:29.Paddy McNair is playing more as a central midfielder now.
:33:30. > :33:33.Oliver Norwood on his left and Steve Davis on his right.
:33:34. > :33:44.Got a good chunk of the ball but Kapustka has won the free
:33:45. > :34:09.Past the half-hour mark, still Northern Ireland 0-0 Poland.
:34:10. > :34:19.This is Piszczek, this is Glik, this is Milik!
:34:20. > :34:32.Easily the best piece of play in the game.
:34:33. > :34:35.You expect a player of Milik's stature
:34:36. > :34:38.He skips around the last defender and
:34:39. > :34:42.then leans back and puts it over the top and that is a big miss for
:34:43. > :34:48.He was so composed, whether he took the ball, whether he waited
:34:49. > :35:23.24 goals for Ajax last season, 21 of those in the Dutch league.
:35:24. > :35:55.Iconic posters of him in the Juventus shirt.
:35:56. > :36:10.It looks like he's playing at the front of a diamond.
:36:11. > :36:12.Certainly more advanced than I've seen him
:36:13. > :36:36.Blaszczykowski stopped him and the referee stops the attack.
:36:37. > :36:38.I thought it should have been a Northern
:36:39. > :36:41.Ireland one, as it came off the Polish player last
:36:42. > :36:59.and through the legs of Shane Ferguson.
:37:00. > :37:13.Well spotted by the Romanian referee.
:37:14. > :37:25.The first time that Gareth McAuley has decided to go forward.
:37:26. > :37:28.on set plays and they need to get forward into the Polish third much
:37:29. > :37:39.Paddy McNair might have to go back to Chris Baird.
:37:40. > :38:11.Norwood delivers a pretty mean free kick and corner too.
:38:12. > :38:12.Nine of Northern Ireland's 16 goals in
:38:13. > :38:15.Six from corners, three indirectly from
:38:16. > :38:29.Lafferty just very strongly manoeuvred Glik out of his
:38:30. > :38:40.He looks around and then he runs back into Glik.
:38:41. > :39:10.Steven Davis then turns his attentions successfully to
:39:11. > :39:19.Pazdan was caught under a lot of pressure from Steven Davis
:39:20. > :39:21.and he felt it came off Pazdan, but the linesman
:39:22. > :39:57.He pushes the ball onto it and then everyone appeals for it.
:39:58. > :40:00.Krychowiak has been winning trophies in Europe as a Sevilla player.
:40:01. > :40:02.The Europa League pretty much belongs to
:40:03. > :40:05.Kapustka wasn't afraid of shooting, but not where the target
:40:06. > :40:25.In contrast, a pretty good effort from Northern Ireland.
:40:26. > :40:28.Yes, they might not have registered an attempt on
:40:29. > :40:31.goal worthy of the name, but they are keeping Poland out
:40:32. > :40:34.Steven Davis, when he pressured the defender, it showed
:40:35. > :40:50.you under a lot of pressure they can be caught out.
:40:51. > :40:55.The deflection took it against the corner flag.
:40:56. > :40:58.Now it has gone behind for a corner that has been won by
:40:59. > :41:04.It looked like the ball was going to go out of play.
:41:05. > :41:07.It hits the corner flag, gets a bit of good
:41:08. > :41:10.fortune, and then the clever nutmeg on Gareth McAuley and wins the
:41:11. > :41:23.Michael McGovern ready, with Milik taking.
:41:24. > :41:34.Well done Kyle Lafferty, near post, on
:41:35. > :41:54.Poland pushing everybody up bar Lukasz Piszczek.
:41:55. > :42:03.Awkward one, the Polish fans appeal for handball, here is Kapustka!
:42:04. > :42:11.Well, he's adjusted very well to get his knee over the top
:42:12. > :42:15.This ball not really dealt with very well, maybe
:42:16. > :42:21.Look at the quick movement from Kapustka.
:42:22. > :42:22.I think it hit Kyle Lafferty on the
:42:23. > :42:29.thigh, but that's an excellent save from Michael McGovern.
:42:30. > :42:31.Pretty close to him but moving quickly and needed
:42:32. > :42:41.Two good chances in the last ten minutes for Poland.
:42:42. > :42:51.Pazdan tries to guided towards goal but finds only the side netting.
:42:52. > :43:00.Three or four players come down and somehow it finds its way
:43:01. > :43:09.to the back post and then it's a sea of green
:43:10. > :43:13.shirts getting in the way before it hits the side netting.
:43:14. > :43:16.Cathcart didn't quite get it completely away.
:43:17. > :43:18.I'm impressed with the number of green shirts that
:43:19. > :43:25.seem to want to get in the way and block attempts.
:43:26. > :43:27.Very willing to get in the way of the attempted shots
:43:28. > :43:34.When it hits him and goes up onto the arm, you can't
:43:35. > :43:42.Lewandowski looking to impose himself.
:43:43. > :43:46.He's not really had too many opportunities.
:43:47. > :43:50.He goes in between Gareth McAuley and Jonny Evans and there's no way
:43:51. > :43:53.There's no love lost between Jonny Evans and
:43:54. > :43:57.That is the best effort and a great save from Michael
:43:58. > :44:10.Four and a half minutes and a little bit more for Northern
:44:11. > :44:13.Ireland to keep on doing what they're doing and hold out until
:44:14. > :44:16.half-time, although with every passing minute that seems to be a
:44:17. > :44:40.He waited for the contact from Oliver
:44:41. > :44:45.Norwood and you can see he wants to go down.
:44:46. > :44:56.Clever play there from Krychowiak too.
:44:57. > :45:01.Lovely bit of skill from Jakub Blaszczykowski.
:45:02. > :45:07.You can see he was looking at Krychowiak, looking to
:45:08. > :45:09.get the free kick, and he's gone down
:45:10. > :45:10.far too easily, says the
:45:11. > :45:17.I just know I'm going to regret saying this at some point, but the
:45:18. > :45:24.They seem intent on letting the game flow as much as possible.
:45:25. > :45:26.He goes down for no reason and grabs the
:45:27. > :46:12.CHUCKLES They might need him in the second
:46:13. > :46:14.part if they are searching for a creative player
:46:15. > :46:39.Jedrzejczyk got his head down and won it.
:46:40. > :46:48.Looks like it was Craig Cathcart, or was
:46:49. > :46:56.He's in full flight here, plays the 1-2.
:46:57. > :46:59.I don't think he can stop him, there.
:47:00. > :47:38.Piszczek is darting in from right back here.
:47:39. > :47:48.They form a really good partnership down the right for Poland.
:47:49. > :47:49.In from Piszczek, but straight into the
:47:50. > :47:53.You can see he is naturally right footed,
:47:54. > :47:56.Piszczek, and he's cutting in on his right foot.
:47:57. > :47:59.They can't get the right angle on the pass with their weaker
:48:00. > :48:07.Lafferty, all very well winning those, but where are they
:48:08. > :48:15.No one is close enough to him to support him, there.
:48:16. > :48:44.No time added on to the end of the first half.
:48:45. > :48:51.No goals but Poland have dominated from the start a
:48:52. > :48:55.Milik went close, might have hit the target.
:48:56. > :48:58.When they finally did through Kapustka Michael McGovern
:48:59. > :49:03.So far so good for the men in green, Northern Ireland
:49:04. > :49:14.holding out for a hero, who will it be?
:49:15. > :49:26.It is Poland zero, Northern Ireland zero.
:49:27. > :49:35.As Poland get ready to start the second half, Paddy McNair has made
:49:36. > :49:38.the way for Stewart Dallas for Northern Ireland. Stewart Dallas
:49:39. > :49:45.missed the final warm up game against Slovakia because he was
:49:46. > :49:51.getting married. His wife is here on honeymoon. Let us hope she has got
:49:52. > :50:02.something to cheer by the end of the evening. There he is, straight
:50:03. > :50:07.involved. No changes for Poland, more people plugging away. As the
:50:08. > :50:12.players were getting ready to retake the field, Robert Lewandowski was
:50:13. > :50:18.chewing the ear off the referee. He was trying to get more joy in terms
:50:19. > :50:40.of decisions, he has not, he has not had a clear-cut chance. Jedrzejczyk.
:50:41. > :50:42.Chased by Davis, to no avail. In the confusion, it has gone all the way
:50:43. > :51:13.back. Pazdan. Polish fans were the first
:51:14. > :51:14.to get tuned into the second half. Immediate response from those in
:51:15. > :51:42.green. Davies. McLauchlan. Dallas. Pazdan
:51:43. > :51:47.had to come across and help. Stuart Dallas, you can see why he was
:51:48. > :52:01.brought on. He will put them under pressure.
:52:02. > :52:16.Davis. Our little too tight for that to work. Davis is having words with
:52:17. > :52:37.Oliver Norwood. Glik. It is Krychowiak. Piszczek.
:52:38. > :52:53.Glik. It is not the service he is accustomed to while wearing a Bayern
:52:54. > :53:26.Munich shared. I think they might have to make a change.
:53:27. > :53:32.That's what you call an impact player!
:53:33. > :53:37.Milik forced to take the Long Way round.
:53:38. > :53:45.Again well-organised defending from Northern Ireland.
:53:46. > :54:03.Krychowiak, pestered by Davis.
:54:04. > :54:42.when they are playing across the park in a game
:54:43. > :54:53.Northern Ireland starting to get them a bit.
:54:54. > :54:56.That's a loose ball, picked off easily
:54:57. > :55:11.And when the ball is finally put in the Northern Ireland net it's
:55:12. > :55:21.because of an accomplished finish from Arkadiusz Milik.
:55:22. > :55:36.It's cut back for Milik, he gets one touch inside the box,
:55:37. > :55:42.the ball goes through the defender's legs.
:55:43. > :56:00.It's his first touch and it does go through the legs of Craig Cathcart.
:56:01. > :56:02.I think he is on side, Michael McGovern.
:56:03. > :56:04.But an excellent strike from Milik, 1-0 Poland.
:56:05. > :56:07.It has got Adam Nawalka up on the bench, his former World Cup
:56:08. > :56:10.team-mate Zibi Boniek celebrating in the stands.
:56:11. > :56:16.If one doesn't get you, the other one will.
:56:17. > :56:34.Blaszczykowski did well on the wing as welcome his cross was excellent.
:56:35. > :56:37.Now Northern Ireland will have to be a lot more adventurous.
:56:38. > :56:39.You think maybe Kyle Lafferty needs a friend up there.
:56:40. > :56:45.There's two or three players warming up down below.
:56:46. > :56:49.Conor Washington and Jamie Ward is the other one.
:56:50. > :56:57.Will Grigg as well, but I have heard reports that he's on fire!
:56:58. > :57:06.They're certainly going to have to change the tactics.
:57:07. > :57:12.Northern Ireland have to come out and play a bit now.
:57:13. > :57:19.They could only hold out for so long.
:57:20. > :57:46.Good run from Stuart Dallas, the pass just
:57:47. > :58:01.Won by Cathcart, straight up into the air.
:58:02. > :58:27.Evans had to improvise with the lift.
:58:28. > :58:29.Shane Ferguson unable to find Oliver Norwood.
:58:30. > :58:35.There is now the danger, if Northern Ireland push up,
:58:36. > :58:43.That is something Michael will want to avoid.
:58:44. > :59:04.They have to get a response in the next five or ten minutes.
:59:05. > :59:09.He is technically a very good player, Blaszczykowski.
:59:10. > :59:23.On loan to Fiorentina from Borussia Dortmund last season.
:59:24. > :59:31.Spent some time under Jurgen Klopp's tutelage in Dortmund.
:59:32. > :59:36.His brother Ryan has just been freed by Liverpool.
:59:37. > :00:12.It should be a Northern Ireland throw and it is.
:00:13. > :00:16.I think he wanted to take the ball on, he had 20 or 30
:00:17. > :00:30.Steve Davis does brilliant here, brilliant determination.
:00:31. > :00:40.My first instinct is that that was intentional from Oliver
:00:41. > :00:51.It's a free kick and a chance, as I say, Northern Ireland are very
:00:52. > :01:03.He knocks it on and you can see Glik completely bundles it over.
:01:04. > :01:07.Gareth McAuley has come forward, as have Craig Cathcart.
:01:08. > :01:14.Northern Ireland were set piece Kings in qualifying.
:01:15. > :01:22.Norwood, a fine deliverer of the dead ball.
:01:23. > :01:23.Chris Baird on the move, McAuley poised.
:01:24. > :01:42.Well, he needed to clear the man at the front.
:01:43. > :02:04.He doesn't feel he's had as many as he should
:02:05. > :02:29.That is why the free kick has been given.
:02:30. > :02:31.Northern Ireland closing down, just a little bit
:02:32. > :02:34.more intense now, it has got to be.
:02:35. > :02:50.Touch from Cathcart, cleared by Ferguson.
:02:51. > :02:54.Lafferty on Glik, and he was on Glik, not really having any real
:02:55. > :03:02.I think Glik puts his arm across him and looks for the free kick.
:03:03. > :03:24.Blaszczykowski, there it goes Piszczek.
:03:25. > :03:30.Three in the middle, Piszczek makes his own way there.
:03:31. > :03:35.Milik has gone in late, and needlessly.
:03:36. > :03:43.Frustration at the final ball, though.
:03:44. > :03:56.He comes sliding in, totally unnecessary.
:03:57. > :04:12.Michael McGovern now pushes a few more forward.
:04:13. > :04:14.It's a really difficult ask for Kyle Lafferty.
:04:15. > :04:21.If he does jump for them and win their header,
:04:22. > :04:26.Other times he feels he can't jump for them.
:04:27. > :04:28.They've got Josh Magennis and Jamie Ward warming up now.
:04:29. > :04:38.Kapustka has grown into the game, the teenager for Poland.
:04:39. > :05:04.Krychowiak of Krakow, Poland's oldest side.
:05:05. > :05:11.It's another throw which is contested.
:05:12. > :05:23.Milik, Lewandowski, through to Kapustka.
:05:24. > :05:35.Well caught by Conor McLaughlin, he followed the run of Kapustka
:05:36. > :05:37.all the way through, lovely pass from Lewandowski
:05:38. > :05:49.but again the defender is there to block it.
:05:50. > :05:51.I think my money was slightly on corner.
:05:52. > :06:08.More pace in the Poland attacks and more space
:06:09. > :06:39.in the Northern Ireland half for them.
:06:40. > :06:42.Steven Davis just with the arm, that is what has forced
:06:43. > :06:59.Didn't particularly force him to the floor.
:07:00. > :07:02.I think he was stumbling anyway and he wants the free
:07:03. > :07:57.Poland will be content to do this for some time longer yet.
:07:58. > :08:00.They are in the driving seat, they have the one goal lead and can
:08:01. > :08:04.bide their time to try and go for a second.
:08:05. > :08:09.I think we are going to see a change.
:08:10. > :08:15.Looks like Conor Washington is ready to come into action.
:08:16. > :09:12.Easy ball across to Pazdan from Glik.
:09:13. > :09:15.Steven Davis is urging green shirted players to come out and help them
:09:16. > :09:25.Won by Baird but he couldn't get going, the first yellow card
:09:26. > :09:44.It was a mistake capitalised on by Chris Baird and Kapustka
:09:45. > :09:49.He's not done badly at trying to get the ball to be fair to him
:09:50. > :09:52.but you can't challenge from behind these days and he gets
:09:53. > :10:05.Kyle Lafferty will have a strike partner.
:10:06. > :10:14.Change of formation, change of strategy, 4-4-2.
:10:15. > :10:32.His fifth cap overall and he has scored in two of his last three.
:10:33. > :10:45.Wonderful ball in from Stuart Dallas and look at the big
:10:46. > :10:48.centre-half getting up, Pazdan, it is headed by Gareth
:10:49. > :10:59.66 minutes played, big moment, first corner of the match
:11:00. > :11:07.McAuley trying to get out of the crowd, it's over him
:11:08. > :11:10.and Szczesny made absolutely sure, that's the punch of the tournament.
:11:11. > :11:13.That's gone a long, long way, that's what you want, length,
:11:14. > :11:21.distance, as far away from your penalty area as possible.
:11:22. > :11:23.It would do wonders for Northern Ireland's confidence
:11:24. > :11:36.if they can just spend a bit more time in the Polish half now.
:11:37. > :11:38.Unfortunately not so proficient on his left foot, Stuart Dallas,
:11:39. > :11:55.Potentially another fairytale in the making with Conor Washington
:11:56. > :11:57.playing on the stage having made his debut against Wales
:11:58. > :12:01.Not so long ago he was still working as a postman.
:12:02. > :12:23.He is good, Blaszczykowski on this right-hand side.
:12:24. > :12:26.I think he's trying to whip it across for someone to slot
:12:27. > :12:29.But nobody is there, excellent break from Poland.
:12:30. > :12:31.One of the best players on the field.
:12:32. > :12:34.He is the reason why the first goal came around,
:12:35. > :12:36.he created the opportunity for Milik.
:12:37. > :13:04.It was a bit of a cruncher on Robert Lewandowski.
:13:05. > :13:06.Went through on him, caught him on the follow-through,
:13:07. > :13:20.Chance for the players to take on some water.
:13:21. > :13:41.It a warm old evening in Nice, sorry if you are under water at home.
:13:42. > :13:58.1-0, just over 20 minutes of the game to go.
:13:59. > :14:00.The goal came early in
:14:01. > :14:07.the second half, scored by Milik of Ajax.
:14:08. > :14:12.McAuley got in the way of the shot, McGovern
:14:13. > :14:13.scampering across to prevent the corner.
:14:14. > :14:16.Again, Blaszczykowski showing his style and technique,
:14:17. > :14:19.first touch was good, get it on the right foot and it's blocked,
:14:20. > :15:00.McAuley really only has one way to go.
:15:01. > :15:03.Forward by Cathcart, Laverty winning at but
:15:04. > :15:05.again there is nobody to
:15:06. > :15:18.He felt he was caught by Dallas, kept in by
:15:19. > :15:32.Excellent touch from Washington, showing great pace.
:15:33. > :15:35.Szczesny shows great awareness to meet it.
:15:36. > :15:36.What an introduction that
:15:37. > :15:39.would have been for Conor Washington.
:15:40. > :15:41.Super piece of play down the right-hand side, second touch
:15:42. > :15:44.maybe a little bit heavy but Szczesny was quick to come out and
:15:45. > :15:52.Excellent goalkeeping from the Arsenal man.
:15:53. > :16:00.Last appearance in the Premier League was New Year's
:16:01. > :16:10.Made one appearance at the European Championship four
:16:11. > :16:13.years ago, on home soil, sent off against Greece, 1-1
:16:14. > :16:25.Poland have never scored more than one in any game
:16:26. > :16:38.One might be all they need this evening.
:16:39. > :16:40.You made the point, the last two championships, still
:16:41. > :16:44.The headed touch from Conor Washington,
:16:45. > :16:47.it's so tight at the end, the bravery from Szczesny, coming to
:16:48. > :17:11.Lafferty down, free kick Northern Ireland.
:17:12. > :17:15.Some confusion, wondering if Michael McGovern should
:17:16. > :17:21.come up to take it but the thought better of it.
:17:22. > :17:59.Krychowiak in front of him, he got the header and put it out for a
:18:00. > :18:01.Across comes Evans to help out the struggling Cathcart,
:18:02. > :18:08.All fair between them this time but a little nudge late on
:18:09. > :18:17.And a kick from behind from Lewandowski.
:18:18. > :18:29.Pretty sure West Brom would not be playing Bayern Munich next season.
:18:30. > :18:32.Shame, would love to see a reprisal between these two.
:18:33. > :18:34.Could be fun if Leicester draw them however couldn't
:18:35. > :18:58.Got the better of Baird, here is Blaszczykowski.
:18:59. > :19:08.The build-up was excellent but the finish from Maczynski was poor.
:19:09. > :19:28.Coming up to the 30 minute mark of the second half.
:19:29. > :19:30.Here we are, eight miles away so from Monte Carlo and
:19:31. > :19:44.the time is right now for Northern Ireland to gamble.
:19:45. > :19:48.Something special attempted by Kyle Lafferty.
:19:49. > :19:49.This is the stage and the
:19:50. > :20:02.He hasn't really had to many opportunities, has he?
:20:03. > :20:19.The holding man in the middle has gone
:20:20. > :20:25.off and Jamie Ward comes on, from Nottingham Forest.
:20:26. > :20:29.He's going to tuck in just behind Lafferty.
:20:30. > :20:32.He makes these lovely little darting runs in the
:20:33. > :20:44.Norwood, a little more defensive responsibility on Steve Davis now,
:20:45. > :20:59.Great support coming from the green and white army.
:21:00. > :21:05.Willing their team on to get them a goal.
:21:06. > :21:06.Conor Washington thought they
:21:07. > :21:13.I thought he was pushed in the back by
:21:14. > :21:39.He was trying to poke it through to Kapustka.
:21:40. > :21:40.Washington just caught on
:21:41. > :21:55.his heels and allowed Glik to win it for Poland.
:21:56. > :21:58.Poland are going to make their first substitution of the match.
:21:59. > :22:06.Thomas Jodlowiec is going to come on.
:22:07. > :22:08.It is Krzysztof Maczynski who is coming
:22:09. > :22:18.off, the defensively minded midfielder who can play centre-back.
:22:19. > :22:21.He will try and hold it and keep it and make
:22:22. > :22:22.sure that Poland get the
:22:23. > :22:28.I remember England doing that last night...
:22:29. > :22:51.Gerry Armstrong's cup is never half empty, always half full.
:22:52. > :23:14.I will settle for a nice moment, or a Nice
:23:15. > :23:21.It's come to McLaughlin, who seemed as surprised as we were.
:23:22. > :23:23.He seemed in a brilliant position at
:23:24. > :23:30.It's there, the defenders have gone to sleep.
:23:31. > :23:35.His first touch, just ricochets off him.
:23:36. > :23:39.Kapustka was two or three yards on the wrong side.
:23:40. > :23:40.Another Polish change, Jakub Blaszczykowski coming
:23:41. > :23:44.off and it's going to be Kamil Grosicki, who we expected to start
:23:45. > :23:56.the game but has been nursing an ankle problem.
:23:57. > :23:59.This is a pretty strong replacement for him.
:24:00. > :24:02.He plays in France with Rennes and has scored
:24:03. > :24:14.four goals in his last half a dozen international games for Poland.
:24:15. > :24:22.He scored two goals in his first 30 games for his nation.
:24:23. > :24:34.Four of those against Gibraltar, I'm not saying that like
:24:35. > :24:44.On the plus side I think Northern Ireland have defended
:24:45. > :24:49.But there are other players in the side who are
:24:50. > :24:51.very good attacking wise and one of them
:24:52. > :24:59.That is the difference between the two
:25:00. > :25:05.The difference between the two sets of supporters
:25:06. > :25:07.is that there is a palpable sense of nervousness among
:25:08. > :25:16.the Polish and a party going on with the Northern Ireland!
:25:17. > :25:17.Blasted towards goal and that was Grosicki's
:25:18. > :25:27.It's just nicked off the toe of Evans.
:25:28. > :25:42.Confusion there between the two players.
:25:43. > :26:01.Cathcart got in front of Lewandowski.
:26:02. > :26:05.Took it away from Robert Lewandowski.
:26:06. > :26:10.I think they were both onside, yeah, they
:26:11. > :26:13.And Milik hits the target but good positioning from Michael
:26:14. > :26:19.Still in the game with nine minutes to go.
:26:20. > :26:20.It could be a
:26:21. > :26:27.Listen to the Northern Ireland fans getting behind
:26:28. > :26:47.Good response by Poland supporters, scarves aloft, singing as well.
:26:48. > :26:49.They suffered great disappointment four years ago when, as co-hosts,
:26:50. > :27:01.Took the edge off the tournament in many ways, took some of the shine
:27:02. > :27:04.I think the pressure tells when you are host nation.
:27:05. > :27:06.France certainly have to cope with that and
:27:07. > :27:14.we saw it in their match against Romania.
:27:15. > :27:18.You think about how far they've come since then.
:27:19. > :27:22.Euro 2012, Northern Ireland failed to pull of
:27:23. > :27:24.Ayhan finished fifth out of six in their
:27:25. > :27:25.qualifying group, only the
:27:26. > :27:32.Again, you can lose to the Faroe Islands and only improve,
:27:33. > :27:48.He hasn't done bad this season, I tell
:27:49. > :28:00.Lewandowski hanging back, Milik in the area.
:28:01. > :28:09.There's a bit of a nervousness about Poland.
:28:10. > :28:34.They're hanging in there with seven minutes to go.
:28:35. > :29:02.Kapustka can't afford another foul, in the book as he is.
:29:03. > :29:04.Lafferty trying to run away from Pazdan but a
:29:05. > :29:28.Lewandowski just guilty of following in with the
:29:29. > :29:44.He's looked out of sorts, Lewandowski.
:29:45. > :29:47.He doesn't get the same service for Poland as he gets for
:29:48. > :29:52.I know he scored five goals in nine minutes but this isn't
:29:53. > :29:55.the sort of platform it's going to happen on.
:29:56. > :29:56.Oliver Norwood over the
:29:57. > :30:10.My goodness, what a clever free kick.
:30:11. > :30:16.As you say can he can't sort his stride out and hit it first
:30:17. > :30:20.But that's a set play they've worked really well.
:30:21. > :30:23.Very good on their set play free kicks and he's
:30:24. > :30:26.inches away from making a good contact.
:30:27. > :30:27.Should he have taken a
:30:28. > :30:34.Michael is just geeing them up, come on, we want one more last
:30:35. > :30:44.First man to ever lead Northern Ireland to the European
:30:45. > :30:52.First to a major tournament since 1986.
:30:53. > :30:54.It's worked up to a point for him today.
:30:55. > :30:57.I think they've won a throw in from that
:30:58. > :31:02.Adam Nawalka is going to make his last
:31:03. > :31:07.A rather officious man in a suit was preventing him from doing
:31:08. > :31:37.Krychowiak, breezes away from Washington to shoot!
:31:38. > :31:39.Krychowiak strong, aggressive, drives through the middle.
:31:40. > :31:42.It opens up for him and he has a crack from
:31:43. > :31:46.That's not far away from the far post.
:31:47. > :31:48.Have a look at that, Michael McGovern was striding
:31:49. > :32:07.It is the youngster, Kapustka, who is coming off.
:32:08. > :32:10.Kapustka off, having just enhanced his reputation over the last 87
:32:11. > :32:15.Slawomir Peszko, once of Wolves, where he didn't exactly shine too
:32:16. > :32:30.Now back in his homeland, with Legia Gdansk.
:32:31. > :32:41.His time at Molineux was beset by a knee injury.
:32:42. > :32:49.Met by Glik, won back in Northern Ireland by Stuart Dallas.
:32:50. > :32:52.Dallas on to it again, and he beats Piszczek and he's fouled by
:32:53. > :32:57.Excellent play, he's going to get him a yellow card.
:32:58. > :33:03.A lovely piece of passing movement and Stuart Dallas
:33:04. > :33:14.An opportunity for a good delivery here.
:33:15. > :33:23.He needs a better delivery this time.
:33:24. > :33:28.Poland's turned to bring everybody back on defensive duties.
:33:29. > :33:41.For Norwood, it's all about the right
:33:42. > :33:48.In it comes from Norwood but it's beaten everybody.
:33:49. > :34:17.The Polish national anthem, translated, goes by the title of
:34:18. > :34:26.But at the moment they have not yet won.
:34:27. > :34:28.We await what it says on the added time
:34:29. > :35:31.Good ball, here comes Szczesny, collides with his own man.
:35:32. > :35:36.Lafferty has the ball belted against him.
:35:37. > :35:38.I think Szczesny is in trouble, usually been brave and clattered
:35:39. > :36:00.Full momentum into the face of Piszczek.
:36:01. > :36:07.Don't think there's too much concern for the players, the Polish player
:36:08. > :36:10.It was an excellent ball that needed to be
:36:11. > :36:19.He's had little to do that everything he has
:36:20. > :36:29.And we haven't always said that about him
:36:30. > :36:33.But getting a run of games with Roma, it
:36:34. > :36:37.can bring your confidence back again.
:36:38. > :36:49.Piszczek is OK, even if he does think it is Thursday.
:36:50. > :36:50.Szczesny to launch it, the Polish fans
:36:51. > :36:53.The Northern Ireland party will continue
:36:54. > :37:06.Almost time for them to paint the town red and white.
:37:07. > :37:08.The 90 minutes are up, whatever the referee
:37:09. > :37:13.Last night it looked like it was all over and the
:37:14. > :37:22.goal came in the 91st, 92nd minute was it?
:37:23. > :37:32.Might present just one final chance to get the ball forward.
:37:33. > :37:35.Good work to close down Jonny Evans however.
:37:36. > :37:38.Lewandowski still working for the team.
:37:39. > :37:40.Norwood, has to go along and
:37:41. > :37:55.Under pressure, giving the ball away.
:37:56. > :37:58.Don't think it will be long before time runs out
:37:59. > :38:01.Three and a half minutes of added time
:38:02. > :38:05.Will be a little more because of the collision
:38:06. > :38:19.Virtually the full length of the field.
:38:20. > :38:45.The other history makers, at the seventh
:38:46. > :38:52.attempt they finally win a game at the European Championships.
:38:53. > :38:57.A game they only needed one goal to win.
:38:58. > :39:05.Time to party for Poland were as for the men
:39:06. > :39:08.in green it's off to Lyon where they will have to try and get
:39:09. > :39:25.Final score Poland 1-0 Northern Ireland.