Wales v Northern Ireland

:00:00. > :00:00.It is Wales against Northern Ireland for a place in the quarterfinals of

:00:00. > :00:08.Euro 2016. What an occasion for the players, management and fans of both

:00:09. > :00:17.countries. Kick-off is around 15 minutes away at the Parcs des

:00:18. > :00:20.Princes. Tensions are building and that is just in the studio, where

:00:21. > :00:27.Dean Saunders and Neil Lennon will be refereed by Alan Shearer. Been,

:00:28. > :00:32.the Welsh, joint top scorers in this competition, unusual position for

:00:33. > :00:38.them to -- position for them to get through to this stage of the finals.

:00:39. > :00:44.Unbelievable. I didn't think we would get through the group, but we

:00:45. > :00:47.have played so well and got through the group so easy and the game today

:00:48. > :00:50.is the biggest in the history of Welsh football, for me. Probably the

:00:51. > :00:55.biggest in Northern Ireland history as well. They came through a tough

:00:56. > :01:00.group, conceded two goals, lots of back to the wall stuff. That is the

:01:01. > :01:03.way they play, Michael has built the team on a defensive foundation. We

:01:04. > :01:10.know we haven't got the class of other countries but again, we are

:01:11. > :01:12.talking about the team spirit, the team itself, very important and

:01:13. > :01:18.fundamentally, it will be more or less the same again today. These

:01:19. > :01:25.teams met at the Aviva Stadium five years ago in front of 529 fans. Bit

:01:26. > :01:29.different today. How do you see? I think it will be tied, Northern

:01:30. > :01:32.Ireland will do what they have done in previous games, which is sit

:01:33. > :01:35.tight and they are playing against the player of the tournament so far,

:01:36. > :01:39.Gareth Bale, at the peak of his career and it will be fascinating to

:01:40. > :01:43.see how they attempt to stop him. One of the big features for both

:01:44. > :01:47.sides so far has been the support of their fans, not just out here in

:01:48. > :01:48.France, but also at home. Here is a taste of what it means to Northern

:01:49. > :01:58.Ireland. Best of luck for denied, boys.

:01:59. > :02:03.Everybody at home is already so proud. Nice was nice, Leon was

:02:04. > :02:11.legendary, but Paris was practice for tonight. With King Michael

:02:12. > :02:17.O'Neill, our hero and his brave warriors will slay those Welsh

:02:18. > :02:24.dragons. This is a little piece of Northern Ireland football history.

:02:25. > :02:31.Knowing that you will have support like never before. You are our

:02:32. > :02:38.heroes and the supporters have played so well. You will beat Wales

:02:39. > :02:43.tonight. -- behaved so well. I will be there in my Northern Ireland

:02:44. > :02:48.shirt, bring Will Grigg on for the last ten minutes. I can't find Will

:02:49. > :02:58.anywhere, he is still on fire somewhere.

:02:59. > :03:03.# Will Grigg is on fire... I had a dream that one day Robbie

:03:04. > :03:13.Savage, way Wilkins and all the rest of them yap yap yap is eat their

:03:14. > :03:22.words -- Ray Wilkins. Green and white army, green and white army...

:03:23. > :03:23.Come on, Northern Ireland! Come on, Northern Ireland! Green and white

:03:24. > :03:34.army! Yes, some great stuff there. Tell me

:03:35. > :03:39.about the reaction in Northern Ireland, Neal. It has captured the

:03:40. > :03:42.imagination of everyone. This is what we have been craving for a long

:03:43. > :03:46.time. You guys being English, you know what it is like to be in major

:03:47. > :03:51.tournaments time and again but for us, the first time in 34 years. We

:03:52. > :03:54.love our bubble and they have given so much pride to the people back

:03:55. > :04:04.home and the people here in Paris today, it means so much. -- we love

:04:05. > :04:06.our football. This is the biggest game in our history. There is no one

:04:07. > :04:11.left in Ireland. They are drinking Paris dry, they know the beer is

:04:12. > :04:16.cheaper now. In the tournament so far, least passes, least shots and

:04:17. > :04:19.the lowest possession, but they are through. Absolutely and they have

:04:20. > :04:23.found a way that suits them and I don't suspect it will change today,

:04:24. > :04:29.it will consist of getting nine, ten men behind ball, defending deep and

:04:30. > :04:34.trying to frustrate Wales and particularly Gareth Bale. Look, you

:04:35. > :04:39.are practically playing with a back six. Four in front of them

:04:40. > :04:47.protecting them and it is about frustrating the opposition and then

:04:48. > :04:50.trying to hit them on the break. I think it actually... They haven't

:04:51. > :04:55.conceded more than one goal in their last 14 games, so they do it and

:04:56. > :04:57.they do it well. There is a great camaraderie, great togetherness,

:04:58. > :05:02.they all seem as if they know what they are doing and it is designed to

:05:03. > :05:06.frustrate. This is not the same clip, it is a different one. Again,

:05:07. > :05:11.you have the back six in there, three in front of them, and I think

:05:12. > :05:15.it will happen again today. Neil, I know you want to come in on that and

:05:16. > :05:19.say they have to be a bit more adventurous. I'm not being

:05:20. > :05:23.disrespectful, they were playing Germany the other night, who force

:05:24. > :05:26.you to play that way at times, that is common sense. I think today they

:05:27. > :05:31.will have to play more with the ball, especially the midfield three.

:05:32. > :05:37.They have made a change up front, Lafferty in for Washington, the only

:05:38. > :05:41.change in the two teams. Conor Washington has run himself into the

:05:42. > :05:43.ground, Kyle Lafferty is fresh and the opposition will suit him, he

:05:44. > :05:49.knows what he will come up against, so it is a good choice.

:05:50. > :05:55.It is just as big a story in Wales, of course. After 58 year wait for

:05:56. > :05:58.tournament football, Welsh fans are revelling in the moment. Saturday

:05:59. > :06:02.the 25th of June is a day that people will remember for the rest of

:06:03. > :06:07.their lives and not only because of the Beach Festival, but because

:06:08. > :06:17.Wales are going to rise to one of their greatest triumphs of. Come on,

:06:18. > :06:21.Wales! Bale for Wales, he has done it again! The players, you have been

:06:22. > :06:29.absolutely fantastic so far. You have made us all proud, Wales are

:06:30. > :06:33.behind you all the way. It has come to tailor! They are in Dreamland! We

:06:34. > :06:44.love how you are playing, we are so proud of you. Give it everything,

:06:45. > :06:48.get the win. Surely this time! Play with passion and just give it to

:06:49. > :06:52.them, smash it. We know you can do it. We will see you in the

:06:53. > :06:58.quarterfinals. When it comes between the Battle of

:06:59. > :07:02.the two fans, it will go to a penalty shoot out, it is tough to

:07:03. > :07:08.call. The difference between the two sides could be that Wales have a

:07:09. > :07:12.superstar. Probably, yes. Michael O'Neill's biggest decision today is

:07:13. > :07:16.whether to press Wales. If he presses Wales, then Gareth Bale is

:07:17. > :07:20.going to get a bit of space and if you give him space, like Russia did,

:07:21. > :07:27.he taught them to shreds and I would imagine they won't press today, they

:07:28. > :07:34.will sit back -- tore them. These are international footballers, look

:07:35. > :07:39.at them. He makes everybody looked pedestrian on the pitch, he is that

:07:40. > :07:44.quick and strong. And if you let him get this sort of room, which Russia

:07:45. > :07:47.did... He won't get that room today against Ireland, because the manager

:07:48. > :07:51.is a clever man, he has done a brilliant job with the team and he

:07:52. > :07:56.will stop this happening. Again, he picks the ball up, he gives the

:07:57. > :08:01.defender five yards, so he is virtually unstoppable, given space.

:08:02. > :08:05.That is a great ball from Aaron Ramsey and that is a brilliant

:08:06. > :08:10.finish, a clever finish. So his cause those types of goals, he has

:08:11. > :08:15.scored nine headers this season, he can run the length of the pitch --

:08:16. > :08:19.he scores. How do Northern Ireland stop him? That is great footage, you

:08:20. > :08:23.see him in space but you have to deny him in space and don't take

:08:24. > :08:28.this the wrong way, hit him early and hit him hard but fair, in the

:08:29. > :08:33.confines of the game. Injure him on purpose? He is our best player. We

:08:34. > :08:35.have to stop him hook or by crook, but they have some great players,

:08:36. > :08:41.Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen. What might help is that if Neil is right,

:08:42. > :08:45.they will get close and let him know they are there early and the English

:08:46. > :08:52.referee is there, Martin Atkinson. Do you think that is a good move

:08:53. > :08:58.from Uefa? I do, there is a familiarity, he'll know the temper

:08:59. > :09:02.of the game -- the tempo of the game. Also, Gareth has 21 players on

:09:03. > :09:08.the pitch with him and it is the biggest game of their careers. He is

:09:09. > :09:14.used to this, massive games, and he is used to defend sitting they all

:09:15. > :09:19.do it against Real Madrid. Could be another busy day for Michael

:09:20. > :09:22.McGovern, who was unbelievably good against Germany. Outstanding, the

:09:23. > :09:27.amount of says he made, point Blank, all different types and his agility

:09:28. > :09:32.across the box was fantastic. It is a great shop window for these guys

:09:33. > :09:37.and he made the most of it against Germany, save after save. What would

:09:38. > :09:41.worry you for Wales? Set plays. The good thing is we have players who at

:09:42. > :09:45.their clubs are used to having possession of the ball, so if

:09:46. > :09:50.Ireland letters have the ball, Bale is used to taking the game, Ramsey

:09:51. > :09:55.at Arsenal, Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams, they are used to having

:09:56. > :09:58.the ball. So not only can we counterattack, we can take the game

:09:59. > :10:01.forward and if you let Gareth Bale have the service around the box...

:10:02. > :10:04.The worry for us is getting mugged on the counterattack and set plays.

:10:05. > :10:10.The million dollar question, who will win? I think it will be a draw

:10:11. > :10:15.and we will win in extra time on penalties. I think Wales will pip it

:10:16. > :10:21.because of Gareth Bale. Do I need to ask you? I think it will be close,

:10:22. > :10:26.but we will win. It is time, Northern Ireland against Wales with

:10:27. > :10:28.Robbie Savage, Gerry Armstrong and Guy Mowbray.

:10:29. > :10:34.Good evening everyone from the Parc des Princes. Tonight, it is a little

:10:35. > :10:38.bit of Britain in Europe. Now, there is a thing. The football is back,

:10:39. > :10:43.thank goodness for that, and it is time to discover which will be the

:10:44. > :10:49.first home nation to fly their flag into the last eight. Wales versus

:10:50. > :10:59.Northern Ireland, it is together stronger versus "Dare to dream".

:11:00. > :11:06.The atmosphere in the last 48 hours in the capital of France, with Welsh

:11:07. > :11:13.supporters and Northern Irish supporters, has been quite something

:11:14. > :11:17.to be amongst. On every corner, our party. In every bar, new friendships

:11:18. > :11:20.being made. Just on hold for a little while, just the next couple

:11:21. > :11:31.of hours. And familiar faces all around, from

:11:32. > :11:38.the refereeing team to just about every player involved.

:11:39. > :11:47.What a moment for everybody involved. In some ways, it doesn't

:11:48. > :11:48.quite feel real. It is a major tournament, it is Wales, it is

:11:49. > :11:54.Northern Ireland, it is in Paris. And for whoever wins the game, there

:11:55. > :12:16.is more of this yet to come. Before the game, there will of

:12:17. > :12:18.course be the spine tingling moment that will come with the national

:12:19. > :12:24.anthems. CHEERING

:12:25. > :13:20.APPLAUSE # Mae hen wlad fy nhadau

:13:21. > :13:29.yn annwyl i mi # Gwlad beirdd a chantorion,

:13:30. > :13:38.enwogion o fri # Ei gwrol ryfelwyr,

:13:39. > :13:47.gwladgarwyr tra mad Thousands in the Welsh Er who for

:13:48. > :14:52.this one. Some can manage a smile. There's a

:14:53. > :15:38.lot of if mill art in the greetings. Davies and Vokes come into the game

:15:39. > :15:46.on a yellow card. This isn't a day to tread with any caution. It's

:15:47. > :15:51.Martin Atkinson refereeing fo are this one. He knows both sets of

:15:52. > :15:58.players well. He will be assisted down the sides and down the end by

:15:59. > :16:02.familiar Premier League colleagues. Michael O'Neill made one change to

:16:03. > :16:05.his Northern Ireland side with Kyle Lafferty back to lead the attack,

:16:06. > :16:13.retaking his place in Conor Washington who had started the last

:16:14. > :16:16.two games. Right back, despite rumours to the contrary, Aaron

:16:17. > :16:22.Hughes keeps his place much before this Championship he hadn't kicked

:16:23. > :16:26.off a game since January. All the players have been upstaged by

:16:27. > :16:28.Michael McGovern whose saves against Jeremy got the side to this game

:16:29. > :16:42.today. It's tense. But it's really

:16:43. > :16:46.exciting. Let's have the first words from my colleagues in the commentary

:16:47. > :16:54.box today, Robbie. You just about wiped your eyes after the anthem?

:16:55. > :16:59.Great atmosphere. Wales and Northern Ireland fans have created a terrific

:17:00. > :17:04.atmosphere. All I am going to say is, may the best team win. Gerry

:17:05. > :17:08.Armstrong you scored the most famous goal in Northern Ireland's history.

:17:09. > :17:11.I suspect you would like to be upstaged finally today Desperate to

:17:12. > :17:15.be upstaged today. Kyle Lafferty back into the side. Hopefully he

:17:16. > :17:19.will lead the line and they will give a good account of themselves

:17:20. > :17:23.much I agree with Robbie, may the best team win. Michael O'Neill, who

:17:24. > :17:28.was on great form when he spoke to the media yesterday. He did suggest

:17:29. > :17:32.that we would have a cagey opening. He said you might find neither

:17:33. > :17:36.crosses halfway for the first 10 minutes. Let's see. Certainly

:17:37. > :17:43.Michael McGovern is giving himself a nice feel of the ball and taking

:17:44. > :17:46.time to study what is set out before him as he clears away. Looking for

:17:47. > :17:59.Lafferty. Ledley. He finds James Chester.

:18:00. > :18:06.Chris Gunter will be able to look for Wales main target man up there,

:18:07. > :18:10.who is Sam Vokes, of Burnley. Met strongly by Gareth McAuley. There's

:18:11. > :18:23.Bale. His first touch of the match is a flick. It wins Wales a throw.

:18:24. > :18:32.I think Corey Evans has a big job today for Northern Ireland. Plays

:18:33. > :18:40.out deep. Ramsey and Bale play as two Number Tens when Wales have

:18:41. > :18:46.comfortable position. It's important Corey Evans brings Norwood or Davis

:18:47. > :18:52.next Corey Evans is him. Anchoring the midfield as Jonny Evans sweeps

:18:53. > :19:00.up at the back here. He needed to. With Bale putting the pressure on.

:19:01. > :19:05.Strange to think when you have Wales playing the two Evans brothers are

:19:06. > :19:09.on the other side. Ramsey. That was a push. Martin Atkinson was right

:19:10. > :19:22.there to see it. Wales get the free-kick. There was a shove in the

:19:23. > :19:26.back, one of the brothers, first brothers to play in a major

:19:27. > :19:34.tournament for Northern Ireland. Ashley Williams. Now Aaron Ramsey.

:19:35. > :19:40.With a mistake. They have been few and far between from him at this

:19:41. > :19:45.Championship so far. We will see a good battle, the wing-backs, Taylor,

:19:46. > :19:50.down the left hand side for Wales against Aaron Hughes and Gunter, who

:19:51. > :19:56.has gone so well this tournament for Wales, down the right hand side

:19:57. > :20:02.against Jonny Evans so it will be interesting. It will be more Stuart

:20:03. > :20:08.Dallas at the moment. I think it's three centre-backs at the moment.

:20:09. > :20:10.Gunter thought about the quick throw for Vokes. It's a more measured

:20:11. > :20:29.approach. Chester and Williams. James Chester. Game management

:20:30. > :20:38.important. It's a warm afternoon. Pretty sticky in Paris. Bale.

:20:39. > :20:40.Looking for Neil Taylor. Taylor used his body. Made sure that Wales won

:20:41. > :20:55.the throw. Enjoyed the reaction in the camp

:20:56. > :20:59.when Taylor scored against Russia in the last game. Just when they

:21:00. > :21:05.thought they had seen everything. Never scored at club level.

:21:06. > :21:17.It's important Northern Ireland pass the ball. They are doing it well at

:21:18. > :21:22.the moment. They look quite composed. One of the things I said

:21:23. > :21:24.to you, Robbie, before hand, Northern Ireland get enough

:21:25. > :21:30.possession of the ball against Wales who are pretty good in that

:21:31. > :21:37.department. One of the chants of the tournament is going on. Will Grigg

:21:38. > :21:42.Is On Fire, again. Waiting for his first opportunity to kick a ball in

:21:43. > :21:48.the match in France. Michael O'Neill said, he must still be on fire

:21:49. > :21:54.because we haven't put him out yet. Just overcooked that. Michael

:21:55. > :21:59.O'Neill won 31 caps, never got to play against Wales. Chris Coleman,

:22:00. > :22:08.32 for Wales, never faced Northern Ireland. Gerry will be aware, they

:22:09. > :22:10.are the reigning British Champions, the final Championship 1984 was won

:22:11. > :22:24.by Northern Ireland. I think Michael O'Neill was right

:22:25. > :22:31.with his early assessment, it is a cagey start. Both teams sussing each

:22:32. > :22:35.other out. Ward playing up alongside Lafferty. It's important he gets the

:22:36. > :22:38.second ball there. Ashley Williams has clattered into Jamie Ward. It

:22:39. > :22:43.will be a free-kick for Northern Ireland. Useful flick from Lafferty,

:22:44. > :22:47.nearly, nearly sent ward away. A good flick. Looks like he comes with

:22:48. > :22:51.his forearm and catches him with his arm, trying to protect himself

:22:52. > :22:55.there, Ashley Williams, he catches Jamie Ward in the head much he is

:22:56. > :22:59.playing as a more advanced player. That's good to see I thought they

:23:00. > :23:04.isolated Kyle Lafferty too much in the game against Poland. Set-pieces

:23:05. > :23:08.could be key. Seven of Northern Ireland's last 10 goals in

:23:09. > :23:18.competitive internationals have come from just this sort of situation.

:23:19. > :23:30.Lafferty leaves it. He then goes for the return. Lafferty knocks it

:23:31. > :23:36.across. Martin Atkinson ruled he was holding his opt there. -- opponent

:23:37. > :23:45.there. You know, well-worked set-piece. As you can see, a little

:23:46. > :23:49.nudge in the back on Gunter. He started the first game, Gerry,

:23:50. > :23:55.against Poland and never got going. Is this fixture better suited for

:23:56. > :23:58.him It's a better shape. Players didn't really know what the shape

:23:59. > :24:02.was and where they were positioned. It's #12r5ig9 forward now. They look

:24:03. > :24:16.comfortable playing this. It's like a 3-5-2.

:24:17. > :24:25.-- looking. Comfortable for Michael McGovern. I suspect, whoever

:24:26. > :24:28.represents him, has had a busy phone over the last few days since that

:24:29. > :24:31.performance against Germany. There are a few in the old shop window

:24:32. > :24:54.this afternoon. Northern Ireland moving the ball

:24:55. > :24:58.around nicely. I think they have settled quicker, Northern Ireland,

:24:59. > :25:01.as Gerry said. Confident possession, not panicking, no rush. I think

:25:02. > :25:09.they've started the game slightly better than Wales. McAuley's ball.

:25:10. > :25:16.Dealt with by Taylor, under pressure from Hughes. Not so much pressure on

:25:17. > :25:19.Ben Davis. Steven Davis tried to find Lafferty. More time now for

:25:20. > :25:31.Ashley Williams to find Gunter and then Chester. Joe Allen. Bale.

:25:32. > :25:38.I tell you what is quite interesting. Every time bale bell

:25:39. > :25:44.gets the ball Johnny - He's right. Excellent. It looks because of his

:25:45. > :25:49.stature and because Bale is good in the air they said to Jonny Evans

:25:50. > :25:51.when he gets the ball you go and press himmed and Dallas comes round

:25:52. > :25:57.in the cover. Bale breezed past, but couldn't get

:25:58. > :26:08.the cross over. Allen. Ledley, not accurate enough in

:26:09. > :26:09.trying to find Ramsey. There might be something on for Northern

:26:10. > :26:19.Ireland. Davis to Ward. Ward is trying to

:26:20. > :26:25.shimmy his way past Davis. Opportunity here for Dallas. Well,

:26:26. > :26:30.he met it well. It was saved well by Wayne Hennessey. I tell you what.

:26:31. > :26:34.Great counter-attack football from Northern Ireland. Results in a

:26:35. > :26:35.strike from Stuart Dallas. Good height for Wayne Hennessey.

:26:36. > :26:45.Excellent save. Well done. Northern Ireland with the lowest

:26:46. > :26:48.number of shots in the Group stage of the tournament. There's the fist

:26:49. > :27:04.meaningful one today. Lafferty is the player being watched

:27:05. > :27:09.most closely. Where is Gareth McAuley going? Wayne Hennessey is

:27:10. > :27:14.able to catch it unchallenged and trying to set Ramsey away.

:27:15. > :27:18.Disappointing from the corner kick. You expected a a abouter ball than

:27:19. > :27:22.that. Northern Ireland is normally good on set plays. I think in that

:27:23. > :27:26.situation there you would want Gareth Bale where Aaron Ramsey was.

:27:27. > :27:29.Use his pace. What Gareth Bale is good at, probably better than

:27:30. > :27:42.Ramsey, defending set-pieces. So good in the air. Chester.

:27:43. > :27:50.Able to go a long way with it. Not able to find Vokes. Nor is Chris

:27:51. > :27:58.Gunter able to keep the ball in play. The first 10 minutes have

:27:59. > :28:02.gone. Wales 0, Northern Ireland 0. Michael O'Neill just slightly the

:28:03. > :28:07.happier manager at this stage. I would have to agree with that. As

:28:08. > :28:14.Robbie said, they have settled down quicker and showed real promise on

:28:15. > :28:17.that last counter-attack movement. There's only been one Northern

:28:18. > :28:23.Ireland win in the last 13 meetings of these two nations since 1975

:28:24. > :28:31.of these two nationssince 1975 since 1975. We won it for the

:28:32. > :28:35.secretary time, 1980. Gerry was on the field. I was. Dallas. Lafferty's

:28:36. > :28:50.return. Ashley Williams away. Aaron Ramsey has started to drift

:28:51. > :28:56.forward. Stephen Davis has seen him now.

:28:57. > :29:02.They'll into Ramsay, couldn't get enough of attach, if any touch --

:29:03. > :29:08.Gareth Bale into Ramsay, couldn't get enough of attach. Whips it in

:29:09. > :29:12.and any slight touch or pace on the ball would have troubled the

:29:13. > :29:16.goalkeeper McGovern. Michael O'Neill did say they are ready to deal with

:29:17. > :29:23.whatever Gareth Bale has got and it looks like they are going to deal

:29:24. > :29:26.with it by ganging up on him. Northern Ireland's defence is so

:29:27. > :29:28.strong, they have not conceded more than one in a game in the last 16

:29:29. > :29:48.matches they have played. Jamie Ward unable to go over that

:29:49. > :29:53.one, walking back from being offside, so plenty of time for James

:29:54. > :29:58.Chester. Chester dispossessed. He didn't have that much time. He is

:29:59. > :30:20.not going to be punished for it. Allen fortunate to get it back but

:30:21. > :30:29.uncharacteristically concede possession again. In the group

:30:30. > :30:36.stage, Wales' attacking threat most of the time came from their

:30:37. > :30:39.wingbacks. So I can understand why the manager Michael O'Neill has gone

:30:40. > :30:42.for wingbacks for Northern Ireland today, because the diagonal ball was

:30:43. > :30:47.on every time against Slovakia and Russia. Didn't do it against England

:30:48. > :30:53.that much. But good tactics from Michael O'Neill. That is one of the

:30:54. > :30:56.things I said to you earlier, Michael is clever, you can't really

:30:57. > :31:00.second-guess him. He thought he would make a change or two, but he

:31:01. > :31:02.seems to have picked the right side and they have settled down well. Not

:31:03. > :31:14.a lot between the two sides. Baille climbs high, a gain, two on

:31:15. > :31:21.him as soon as the ball went near him -- Gareth Bale.

:31:22. > :31:27.Lafferty wanted it short but did make a run for Stuart Dallas.

:31:28. > :31:42.Stopped by Ashley Williams, perfectly fairly.

:31:43. > :31:50.If those players can get going, Allen, Ramsay and mail, it might be

:31:51. > :31:53.the key for Wales. The three Musketeers, quite fitting in Paris

:31:54. > :32:06.-- and Gareth Bale. Very tentative start by the boys in

:32:07. > :32:09.red, Robbie. It certainly is, one good shot from Northern Ireland,

:32:10. > :32:15.good save by Hennessey, Wales haven't really got into the game

:32:16. > :32:24.yet. Both teams are comfortable in defending. Taylor tries to get

:32:25. > :32:31.around. That was the ad ball in the games against Slovakia and Russia,

:32:32. > :32:36.Ashley Williams from centre-half, but covered Taylor ready well and

:32:37. > :32:39.Dallas against Chris Gunter has covered it really well. Michael

:32:40. > :32:43.O'Neill is encouraging the diagonal balls and as it is travelling, the

:32:44. > :33:15.Northern Ireland players are coming out.

:33:16. > :33:22.Farallon Chris Gunter. I think he was caught by Stuart Dallas just a

:33:23. > :33:27.little bit late -- foul on. He just blocks him, there is no doubt that

:33:28. > :33:30.is a free kick. It is a first word in the ear of the Leeds player from

:33:31. > :33:55.the Leeds referee. The delivery. Sam Vokes got

:33:56. > :33:59.connection but not enough direction. All he can do is click it on, the

:34:00. > :34:02.challenge coming in from Gareth McAuley, and then you hope someone

:34:03. > :34:04.is gambling and gets on the end of it. It is a wee bit too strong,

:34:05. > :34:13.though. Just at the moment, the red wall, as

:34:14. > :34:18.Wales supporters have been dubbed by the Wales players, has been forced

:34:19. > :34:25.to be a little bit quieter than in some games. Most of the noise is

:34:26. > :34:28.coming from the green and white end, because of the green and white wall

:34:29. > :34:32.on the field. There is no way through it.

:34:33. > :34:38.Lafferty penalised, foul on Joe Ledley.

:34:39. > :34:46.It is a foul by Lafferty. But Michael O'Neill has obviously

:34:47. > :34:52.watched the Russia game, where Wales were absolutely devastating. They

:34:53. > :34:56.had numbers forward, full-backs forward, midfielders forward, the

:34:57. > :35:01.Russia, giving Gareth Bale the space he needed and as you can see, he has

:35:02. > :35:05.had no space to work in in the opening 70 minutes. And look how

:35:06. > :35:09.quickly they are being pressed, that is important, to put pressure on a

:35:10. > :35:10.man on the ball, not allowed to get their head up. The square ball is on

:35:11. > :35:22.but not forward pass. Speak one of forward one for Bale.

:35:23. > :35:29.Cathcart had to meet it. Sam Vokes jumps! And offside as Aaron Ramsey

:35:30. > :35:33.turns the ball in. The first bit of excitement at the other end of the

:35:34. > :35:39.field amongst those Wales supporters is cut short. First impression, I am

:35:40. > :35:45.not sure Aaron Ramsey has to touch it. It is a great leap by Sam Vokes.

:35:46. > :35:51.He is in an offside position, I don't know if he has to go for it.

:35:52. > :35:56.Would it be the goalkeeper? I am not sure. But Ramsay was in an offside

:35:57. > :36:00.position, correct from the linesman. I am Nacho it was going in, I think

:36:01. > :36:06.he probably felt he needed to touch it -- I am not sure. But a good ball

:36:07. > :36:13.in from the left side and a good jump by Sam Vokes. Hasn't scored for

:36:14. > :36:19.his country since March 2014 in a 3-1 win against Iceland. Haven't

:36:20. > :36:27.both countries, long way since then? -- come a long way since then?

:36:28. > :36:33.That might just be the trigger for Wales.

:36:34. > :37:07.Gunter has stolen a few yards but the officials are letting it go.

:37:08. > :37:13.Jonny Evans strong and wise enough to hold off Ramsey.

:37:14. > :37:21.Evans and McCauley in defence at one end and James Chester at the other

:37:22. > :37:25.and Chester, for most of last season, kept out of the west Brom

:37:26. > :37:34.side by the two on the other side today. I was talking about it to

:37:35. > :37:38.Chris Brunt, he said you cannot fault James Chester, he's strong and

:37:39. > :37:47.good on the ball, maybe not as tall as the other guys, that is the

:37:48. > :38:00.difference. It is a west Brom way, the Northern Ireland, four

:38:01. > :38:06.centre-backs filling the roles. If anyone wants to experience right

:38:07. > :38:14.back or centre-back, Aaron Hughes left be a league in Australia and is

:38:15. > :38:20.available for hire -- left the A League.

:38:21. > :38:27.Ramsey tried to trick his way past Jonny Evans. Evans not happy with

:38:28. > :38:32.the way he tumbled but perfectly happy with the way Martin Atkinson

:38:33. > :38:37.read it. I think he read it right, he knocked it too far, in front of

:38:38. > :38:45.his legs. I think you try to make the most of the situation. Robbie?

:38:46. > :38:46.That is good defending my Jonny Evans, intelligent defending, used

:38:47. > :39:12.his body well. Shot fired! Really fired nicely by

:39:13. > :39:17.Jamie Ward. The second save from Wayne Hennessey. He should be closed

:39:18. > :39:20.down quicker than that. It is a good strike, a good height for Wayne

:39:21. > :39:24.Hennessey, but he has still got to save it and if I was a Welsh

:39:25. > :39:29.defender, you would want to get closer to them. She thought that was

:39:30. > :39:34.going in. I think that is Mrs Lafferty.

:39:35. > :39:39.Gareth McAuley is forward, as he is for every Northern Ireland corner.

:39:40. > :39:49.Gareth Bale heads away. Not just a superstar. I have watched him at

:39:50. > :39:51.Real Madrid and he is such a good player back defending, he is good in

:39:52. > :40:14.the air and you need him there. Stuart Dallas made his debut against

:40:15. > :40:21.Wales. In the Nations Cup game that was played at the Aviva Stadium.

:40:22. > :40:25.More have read about it then watched it, just over 500 there.

:40:26. > :40:34.It was missed, Lafferty couldn't quite react in time. Good centre

:40:35. > :40:41.forward play by Sam Vokes, bringing his team-mates into play. Good

:40:42. > :40:47.pressure from Northern Ireland. Too much with the hold on Joe Allen. I

:40:48. > :40:51.think that is something he is good at, Cory Evans. He is a little bit

:40:52. > :40:53.too overcame for the referee, there is a bit a shirt pulling. Right

:40:54. > :41:21.decision. Corry Evans and Norwood in each of

:41:22. > :41:41.the's way. -- each other's way. Every time a midfield player or

:41:42. > :41:47.defend against their head up one looks for a long pass, both sides

:41:48. > :41:52.drop off, so it is up to someone to drop deep, get on the half term and

:41:53. > :41:55.play somebody in. Evans looking for a Lafferty, he won the macro it

:41:56. > :42:00.comfortably enough ahead of Ben Davis but always difficult to hit

:42:01. > :42:09.the target -- Raaqy won it comfortable enough. He is six foot

:42:10. > :42:12.four, got up well enough but couldn't directive. But if you are a

:42:13. > :42:16.Wales player, you will be looking to close down and not that the cross

:42:17. > :42:55.come in in the first place. Can Bale fine Allen? Joe Allen

:42:56. > :43:02.immediately rushed at. Norwood made sure there was no shot available.

:43:03. > :43:07.Goal kick Northern Ireland. Joe Allen trying to dictate play. Bale

:43:08. > :43:11.on his favoured left foot. I think it is a short, it is whipped across

:43:12. > :43:16.goal but I think he is trying to find the target. A bit of

:43:17. > :43:19.frustration from Wales but it is tactically very intriguing game and

:43:20. > :43:23.I don't think Wales have had the situation where the wingbacks are

:43:24. > :43:28.marked when they go forward. Any games like this, it is one moment of

:43:29. > :43:33.magic from a special player. Who is that special player going to be? We

:43:34. > :43:37.didn't expect Northern Ireland to have this much position, that is why

:43:38. > :43:42.it is an interesting game. The two best chances have gone to Northern

:43:43. > :43:47.Ireland. A Lafferty left his leg hanging, Ashley Williams tumbled

:43:48. > :43:51.over it. Free kick is the obvious decision. Kyle Lafferty did gesture

:43:52. > :43:57.to Martin Atkinson to say, well, it is kind of my first one. I don't

:43:58. > :44:03.think it is that bad. 20 years ago, that was a good challenge. Said by

:44:04. > :44:27.the man who made them. We must congratulate Robbie. The

:44:28. > :44:31.only time he played for Wales against Northern Ireland, he only

:44:32. > :44:35.lasted eight. It was a good eight minutes, though. Not a good few

:44:36. > :44:53.seconds therefore James Chester. First red card of your career,

:44:54. > :44:57.wasn't it, one of only two? Yeah, that game. The way is it started

:44:58. > :45:04.back then, there were tackles flying in. Three players were sent off. You

:45:05. > :45:08.know, it was a great game to be involved. This game could be the

:45:09. > :45:16.opposite. Not been a tackle yet. There is more nervousness about

:45:17. > :45:20.this. What's at stake. There is bound to be nerves. Certainly, for

:45:21. > :45:24.me, the host nation, France, seemed to be nervous on a lot of occasions.

:45:25. > :45:29.It was always going to be a tactical battle. I don't think there will be

:45:30. > :45:33.too many clear-cut chances. That's why it could go to extra-time.

:45:34. > :45:53.Northern Ireland with a throw-in. Allen. Wasn't a clean challenge.

:45:54. > :45:58.Dallas, down. A chance for the men in Green And white get the ball into

:45:59. > :46:03.the box. This is a good side in terms of free-kicks. We said this

:46:04. > :46:06.before, opportunity, Gareth McAuley is up there, Craig Cathcart, pushing

:46:07. > :46:17.forward, Jonny Evans pushing forward. Kyle Lafferty. A good

:46:18. > :46:21.delivery from Norwood with his right foot from the left hand side. Jonny

:46:22. > :46:23.Evans is a late arrival into the crowd. Until from Norwood, headed

:46:24. > :46:37.out by Ledley. Ledley's first start in a row,

:46:38. > :46:46.having come on as a sub against Poland he broke a leg on 7th May,

:46:47. > :47:04.causing him to mist Crystal Palace's FA Cup appearance. Bale. -- miss.

:47:05. > :47:07.Dallas. Managed to find Lafferty. I'm glad you said it was intriguing,

:47:08. > :47:20.Robbie, certainly not exciting yet. Good feet from Norwood. Well won by

:47:21. > :47:28.Ramsey. Quickly won back by Steven Davis. Brilliant play from Steven

:47:29. > :47:35.Davis. Could have dived in. Bided his time and won the ball back for

:47:36. > :47:38.his team. Really good player. Fantastic player for Southampton.

:47:39. > :47:48.Cynical foul really, he was clever, stayed on his feet and won the ball

:47:49. > :47:56.back for his side. McAuley. Williams up towards Vokes. McAuley's come in.

:47:57. > :48:00.It has got to be a foul. Was never going to win the ball. It may be a

:48:01. > :48:04.chance for Northern Ireland. Kyle Lafferty presented that one to James

:48:05. > :48:16.Chester. Kept his cool nicely. Williams. Vokes kicks it on. Ramsey,

:48:17. > :48:18.Bale. He's got Gunter to the right. Chris Gunter with the chip back in.

:48:19. > :48:34.Here's Taylor. Ledley. Took too long. Corey Evans there to

:48:35. > :48:37.stop the cross. Do you not think Wales look better on the counter

:48:38. > :48:41.attack. That is when they look at their most dangerous. There players

:48:42. > :48:44.into the box. Decent ball into the box and Northern Ireland will be

:48:45. > :48:48.under a bit of pressure. Until that little break down between Allen and

:48:49. > :48:52.Taylor it looked as though we were getting a bit more pace in the game

:48:53. > :49:02.from both teams. It will all slow down again now. Gunter and Tay, he

:49:03. > :49:09.has a shot. A cross come shot. First time they were free. Dallas didn't

:49:10. > :49:14.get back. That came from the flick on from Vokes and Ramsey running in

:49:15. > :49:21.behind. First time you saw a midfield player for Wales running

:49:22. > :49:22.behind the centre forward. Ledley. Misses out, Allen, intentionally or

:49:23. > :49:34.otherwise. Chester. Taylor couldn't get there. It looked

:49:35. > :49:38.as though he might for a That diagonal ball second. Again. It's a

:49:39. > :49:43.difficult one. Gareth Bale has gone for a really tough delivery. I think

:49:44. > :49:50.that's too hard a skill, even for him. He's world-class.

:49:51. > :49:56.The support has been, for both these teams, right through the tournament,

:49:57. > :50:02.talking to a Northern Ireland fan just last evening who was on his way

:50:03. > :50:09.back, at the airport. He texted his wife to say - can I stay? He's here.

:50:10. > :50:23.There will be a few more tales like that.

:50:24. > :50:37.Davies was being held. Good advantage played. Lieu to Ledley,

:50:38. > :50:43.through to Vokes. -- through. Good pressing. Really good defending from

:50:44. > :50:46.Jonny Evans. It's good play from Wales on the counter-attack. Sam

:50:47. > :50:51.Vokes coming more into the game as target play. That is what they need

:50:52. > :50:59.him to do, hold the ball up. Excellent from Jonny Evans.

:51:00. > :51:23.Taylor. Allen. Ashley Williams is forward. Trying to bundle his way

:51:24. > :51:26.through. Wasn't going to be about subtlety there.

:51:27. > :51:42.Can't keep it. Nor can Northern Ireland. They have a free-kick.

:51:43. > :51:50.One or two little decisions going Northern Ireland's way. I'm not sure

:51:51. > :51:57.that's a foul. You know, Joe Allen, Norwood runs into him. Allen hold

:51:58. > :52:03.him off. Goes down too easily. That's not a foul. A soft one, I

:52:04. > :52:07.think, as well. Saying all that, I'm pleased Martin Atkinson is the

:52:08. > :52:09.referee. I think it's a decision. Had a good season in the Premier

:52:10. > :52:17.League. Knows these players. Lafferty. Lafferty again with a

:52:18. > :52:22.knock down for Steven Davis. Dallas won't get to that before Bale

:52:23. > :52:43.does. Up towards Ward, who does really

:52:44. > :52:50.well. Davis. Jamie Ward wanted a free-kick. I think the referee is

:52:51. > :52:54.trying to keep the play going. I understand where he's coming from.

:52:55. > :53:01.McAuley just reacted to that in time. Evans. Lafferty always the

:53:02. > :53:02.target. He's winning just about everything. Not always finding

:53:03. > :53:19.team-mates. Davis, Ward. Hughes. Hennessey stays

:53:20. > :53:25.back. . It's turned away from Dallas by Gunter. Stuart Dallas was

:53:26. > :53:30.steaming in. Brilliant delivery from Jamie Ward. Aaron Hughes it is.

:53:31. > :53:34.Great delivery. The far-post, Gunter does really well. It is a throw.

:53:35. > :53:48.Across the near side of the corner flag.

:53:49. > :53:59.Dallas. Not even Kyle Lafferty's going to get anywhere near that one.

:54:00. > :54:02.It's funny, that is last attack came from Evans showing more

:54:03. > :54:06.determination than Ledley before the edge of the box, before the ball

:54:07. > :54:10.went out wide right to Hughes and he crossed the ball in. Little things

:54:11. > :54:14.like that, it will be small margins today, I think. Any mistake anyway

:54:15. > :54:23.or one good ball to be the difference, it could be a goal.

:54:24. > :54:39.-- could be the difference. Martin Atkinson is saying, get a move on

:54:40. > :54:44.with it. I think we all agree with that. Clear my McAuley. It should be

:54:45. > :54:51.the other way round, it was Ward trying to flick it onto Lafferty.

:54:52. > :54:55.Ben Davies. Going to have to go back to Hennessey.

:54:56. > :55:08.Chester. Dear, dear. Frustration from Wales. Michael O'Neill, so are

:55:09. > :55:16.fa, has his tactics spot on. Giving them no time. Dallas against Gunter.

:55:17. > :55:22.Hughes against Taylor. Wales have no out balls. Get on the ball, get on

:55:23. > :55:27.the half turn. Look for Ramsey and Bale in number 10 positions.

:55:28. > :55:29.Lafferty, Chester got a hold. Wrapped arms around the waist. On go

:55:30. > :55:41.Northern Ireland with Dallas. Lafferty having to strongly hold off

:55:42. > :55:47.Gunter. He couldn't do it any longer. Free-kick. Silly free-kick.

:55:48. > :55:51.Lafferty is holding it up. Good position in the wide area, playing

:55:52. > :55:55.for the free-kick. He's not going anywhere. He doesn't need to

:55:56. > :56:01.challenge him. He has given a silly free-kick away. Good delivery coming

:56:02. > :56:02.in now. You can shield the ball, but you can't grab at somebody to pull

:56:03. > :56:09.them away from it. McAuley's poised again. Norwood

:56:10. > :56:25.settles himself. Norwood. Deeper this one. A corner.

:56:26. > :56:31.Fantastic defensive header from Ben Davies on that back post. He rose,

:56:32. > :56:35.he's got Cathcart coming in behind him. Fantastic defensive header. It

:56:36. > :56:38.was important to get a good delivery, Northern Ireland, from

:56:39. > :56:45.this side. The sun is in Hennessey's eyes. A good ball from the left side

:56:46. > :56:50.with the right foot. That is what Norwood does well. The referee is

:56:51. > :56:57.looking at how close colleagues Chester and Evans are getting.

:56:58. > :57:09.Something different. Ward let it run. Nobody else expecting that.

:57:10. > :57:23.Bale. Norwood. Ward's cross blocked by Taylor. I

:57:24. > :57:27.don't think Jamie Ward knew how much time he had. He was unmarked. I

:57:28. > :57:32.think the plan was he was going to be with someone marking him much he

:57:33. > :57:33.changed his direction. He flicks it. He could have turned it himself,

:57:34. > :57:50.couldn't he? Ward made himself available. Steven

:57:51. > :57:51.Davis there, too. He was trying to win a corner, hoping for a touch

:57:52. > :58:11.behind. Could only find Hennessey. Hennessey catches the ball there. If

:58:12. > :58:15.you want to start a counter-attack you have to do it quick. If it's

:58:16. > :58:19.show Northern Ireland can get back into their shape and it's very

:58:20. > :58:30.difficult to break down. Bale to Ramsey. Gunter, Bale. Mansion to get

:58:31. > :58:34.past Corey Evans that time, and Dallas - that's cooly done by Aaron

:58:35. > :58:37.Hughes. First thing I have to say is, he's out of the game too much,

:58:38. > :58:42.Gareth Bale. He needs to be more involved. They are still trying

:58:43. > :58:46.these diagonal balls. It's as if they don't have any other options.

:58:47. > :58:49.Robbie talked about it earlier thechl have to think about how else

:58:50. > :58:56.we can get the ball forward. They are able to do it now thanks to a

:58:57. > :58:57.free-kick. Joe Allen not best placed with Oliver Norwood's late challenge

:58:58. > :59:10.there. Definite foul, Joe Allen did well.

:59:11. > :59:15.He has had a fantastic tournament. There have been reports of Swansea

:59:16. > :59:18.putting in a bid, rejected by Liverpool, trying to take him back

:59:19. > :59:19.to south Wales. Reportedly, Leicester and Southampton interested

:59:20. > :59:39.as well. Corry Evans looking both ways before

:59:40. > :00:13.finding Craig Cathcart. Williams just gets the ball away

:00:14. > :00:17.before Jamie Ward came to take it. Bale is caught. Stuart Dallas with

:00:18. > :00:23.the foul right under Chris Coleman's nose and he is going to get the

:00:24. > :00:28.first booking of the match. That will rule him out the quarterfinal,

:00:29. > :00:33.if Northern Ireland get into one. Bale over on this right-hand side,

:00:34. > :00:39.trying to find space. He is coming deep, dropping off, switching sides,

:00:40. > :00:45.just to try and find a bit of space. Stuart Dallas comes in, catches him

:00:46. > :00:48.with his arm, actually. If you go in like that, with your feet sliding

:00:49. > :00:55.in, you can say it is reckless, that is what it is and that is why the

:00:56. > :01:00.referee booked him. His studs caught him on the foot, good decision.

:01:01. > :01:18.Metatarsal territory, that one. Ramsey's Borlee and is too strong

:01:19. > :01:22.and high for Bale. I think Northern Ireland are winning the 50-50s in

:01:23. > :01:25.the middle of the park and that is something the Welsh have got to

:01:26. > :01:32.change. It is a decent ball in but no one on the end of it. Hit and

:01:33. > :01:36.miss at the moment, Wales, for me. Certainly I think Michael O'Neill

:01:37. > :01:43.will be the happier at half-time. We are not far away from that moment.

:01:44. > :01:49.The standout performers so far have been both sets of fans.

:01:50. > :01:59.No, not you, Robbie. You are doing very well, keep it up. We can never

:02:00. > :02:01.keep you out of it along, can we? It is going to be a Northern Ireland

:02:02. > :02:10.throw. Stuart Dallas has to get that

:02:11. > :02:16.booking out of his system, any disappointment that he feels. That

:02:17. > :02:20.will do it for the first half at the Parc des Princes. The atmosphere has

:02:21. > :02:24.been brilliant. Michael O'Neill was asked yesterday about his experience

:02:25. > :02:31.of derbies and he recalled the electric atmosphere from 500 when he

:02:32. > :02:36.was Brechin City boss. Their say, they were better games. Half-time,

:02:37. > :02:41.nil- nil. There is the Eiffel Tower, there is

:02:42. > :02:47.the fan park, I wish with red and green, as you might expect -- awash

:02:48. > :02:52.with. Not too much to shout about so far. No, both teams cancelling each

:02:53. > :02:55.other out, a nervous affair, not equality -- a lot of quality on the

:02:56. > :03:00.pitch, hardly anything to stand and clap and it is like to teams

:03:01. > :03:04.shadow-boxing. Wales had nine shots on target in the first up against

:03:05. > :03:08.Russia, not a single one. The game is going how I thought it was going

:03:09. > :03:11.to go, Northern Ireland are going to sit and defend and Wales will find

:03:12. > :03:15.it difficult to break them down. We need Ireland to go forward and come

:03:16. > :03:19.at us and if they go forward, they have to get in end product,

:03:20. > :03:25.otherwise Wales are going to counterattack. Neil, from the

:03:26. > :03:29.Northern Ireland perspective? I think we're pretty happy. We have

:03:30. > :03:33.negated anything Wales have offered in an attacking sense and offered a

:03:34. > :03:37.couple of shots on target. The game is as we called it, tight and cagey

:03:38. > :03:41.but I think Northern Ireland has had the better so far. So pretty please.

:03:42. > :03:48.Especially when you consider the talent Wales have got. Absolutely,

:03:49. > :03:53.the three in midfield, the pressing has been good, we have stopped

:03:54. > :03:56.Allen, Ramsey and Ledley from dominating the ball. From a neutral

:03:57. > :04:00.point of view, it is disappointing but from our point of view, we are

:04:01. > :04:04.pretty pleased. The standard of football has been so poor. Ms

:04:05. > :04:11.control, long-range passes, the ball has been run out of play. He think

:04:12. > :04:14.the occasion is too much? I think so. I slightly disagree with Dean, I

:04:15. > :04:19.think Northern Ireland have committed men forward, they have had

:04:20. > :04:23.men ahead of the ball and I think it will play into Wales' hands, because

:04:24. > :04:26.there is a belief in the Northern Ireland team that they can go and

:04:27. > :04:29.get a result here and it might encourage Wales to hit them on the

:04:30. > :04:32.counterattack with Gareth Bale's pace, because it's they commit

:04:33. > :04:38.Manford, they leave space at the back. There has only really been one

:04:39. > :04:44.chance in the game, Stuart Dallas produced a save. We win the ball in

:04:45. > :04:49.midfield, Jamie Ward gets his head up, squares it to Evans who sets up

:04:50. > :04:55.Dallas. It is a half decent strike, comfortable save. He has come across

:04:56. > :04:58.it. It sums up the first half, really, not really convincing, he

:04:59. > :05:04.has not three put his foot through it. But like I said, from a Northern

:05:05. > :05:07.Ireland perspective, we will be pretty happy. Wales had a disallowed

:05:08. > :05:13.goal, clearly offside but the question is would it have gone in if

:05:14. > :05:18.Ramsey had left it? My first thought was it is going in. It is a great

:05:19. > :05:21.header and he is good at that, Sam Vokes. I think that is dipping

:05:22. > :05:26.inside the far post, whether the keeper would have got a touch, I

:05:27. > :05:33.don't know. That is going to drop in the far corner for me. Aaron Ramsey

:05:34. > :05:36.is not to know he is offside. But that is a bit of quality that we

:05:37. > :05:43.haven't seen much of. Do you think that is going in? What I do know is

:05:44. > :05:46.it is a fantastic header, the way he climbs, but other than that, Jamie

:05:47. > :05:53.Ward with the other effort on target. Let's have a look at it and

:05:54. > :05:58.that is about it. Two efforts on target from Northern Ireland. It was

:05:59. > :06:02.the lack of backlift, head down, two touches. I don't think it was ever

:06:03. > :06:09.going in, straight at the goalkeeper. It was the backlift that

:06:10. > :06:13.took everyone by surprise. The difference between the two teams,

:06:14. > :06:17.Jamie Ward had time to get the shot away, but look at the energy and

:06:18. > :06:21.belief from Northern Ireland to get out and stop Joe Allen. He has time

:06:22. > :06:25.and then the next thing, they are on top of him. The midfield three have

:06:26. > :06:33.worked really well as a unit and really well in terms of keeping

:06:34. > :06:37.Allen and Ramsey contain. Speaking of the Northern Ireland game plan,

:06:38. > :06:40.you have had a look at it and it is kind of working. Yes, they have

:06:41. > :06:45.committed men forward, they are trying to press them and as I said,

:06:46. > :06:49.I would be wary of that second part, because when you are pressing about

:06:50. > :06:52.high and they have done it very well, obviously they have the belief

:06:53. > :06:57.they can get something out of the game by doing that, they are in the

:06:58. > :07:03.Wales half and have five or six players forward. Forcing them into

:07:04. > :07:10.doing that. Again, no time on the ball. Panic them into mistakes.

:07:11. > :07:18.Committing men forward. That is the risk and on the one occasion that

:07:19. > :07:21.they do... Look, six players attacking there. We mentioned before

:07:22. > :07:25.the game that they were quite content to sit but they have been a

:07:26. > :07:34.lot more ambitious in the first half than in previous games. I have seen

:07:35. > :07:38.a lot of Gareth Bale, a few snapshots, -- haven't seen a lot.

:07:39. > :07:42.How do Wales get him into the game? It is down to Michael O'Neill and

:07:43. > :07:45.how ambitious he is going to be. If they are going to go forward and try

:07:46. > :07:53.and score a goal, we are obviously better on the counterattack than

:07:54. > :07:57.taking the game to teams, it is evidence out there. I suppose if you

:07:58. > :08:01.have two teams playing on the counter, it can nullify everything.

:08:02. > :08:05.Are you going to keep Gareth Bale quiet for another 45 minutes? I

:08:06. > :08:11.don't think so. He is drifting out wide right, left, diagonal. He is

:08:12. > :08:16.trying to find space and there isn't any. From our point of view, I am

:08:17. > :08:21.delighted to see Gareth Bale pic of the ball three or four yards in his

:08:22. > :08:26.own heart, facing his own goal and playing square balls across the

:08:27. > :08:33.pitch -- in his own half. We also said beforehand, denied the space.

:08:34. > :08:38.We have won Sammy games like this, I Gareth Bale free kick, a shot from

:08:39. > :08:42.distance -- so many. We have played like this every time said he is the

:08:43. > :08:48.difference, the gamebreaker. He doesn't want to get too frustrated

:08:49. > :08:52.and drift back into those areas. They have played him well in the

:08:53. > :08:56.first half. We said you have to deny him space, deny him the ball and

:08:57. > :09:00.they did that brilliantly. England play their second round

:09:01. > :09:02.match on Monday, Iceland the opposition and a quarterfinal

:09:03. > :09:03.against France or the Republic of Ireland awaits the winner. Let's

:09:04. > :09:17.hear from striker Daniel Sturridge. Without you are we might not be sat

:09:18. > :09:25.here now. Have you thought about that, you're winning goal against

:09:26. > :09:34.Wales? Not at all. Sturridge scores! From 1-0 down to winning the game.

:09:35. > :09:39.That is quite telling smile. What do you mean? You thought, maybe. I am

:09:40. > :09:42.smiling because you're not the first person who has said it but I have

:09:43. > :09:47.not thought, we got through because of me. When you come off the bench

:09:48. > :09:51.and score the winning goal in a match like that, it felt like it

:09:52. > :09:55.should go on again to Slovakia. Did it feel to you like it stuttered a

:09:56. > :09:59.little bit in that game? I say that if you defend well in 90 minutes,

:10:00. > :10:05.fair play to you and Slovakia did very well, see to give them credit.

:10:06. > :10:10.Were you surprised there were six changes to the starting line-up? No,

:10:11. > :10:13.because in tournament football, like the manager has said, you have to

:10:14. > :10:18.use the players and that is why you bring a squad of 23. I also think

:10:19. > :10:22.playing the game like that, you have to be on song and we weren't. As

:10:23. > :10:27.much as we say we had possession and stuff, we weren't as good as we can

:10:28. > :10:31.be. We will be better, we will be created, we will score goals, we

:10:32. > :10:36.will excite people, we will have the spans with smiles on their faces.

:10:37. > :10:42.Slovakia was a lesson -- the fans. It seems either the smaller

:10:43. > :10:46.countries are catching up or the bigger teams are not playing as

:10:47. > :10:51.well. I think the coaching has improved and if you are tactically

:10:52. > :10:54.good, it brings you a long way. I think the countries come easy the

:10:55. > :10:58.way they set up as a team, they know their strengths and they know their

:10:59. > :11:02.weaknesses. They play on their strengths. If that is good

:11:03. > :11:09.defending, that is a strength. What you know about Iceland the country?

:11:10. > :11:20.How many people? I think it is denied 320 9,000. Pretty much spot

:11:21. > :11:26.on. -- 329 thousand. They have done amazing to get it, that is why we

:11:27. > :11:29.can't disrespect them. But of course, we understand going into

:11:30. > :11:37.this game that if we play as well as we possibly can, we will beat them.

:11:38. > :11:43.We will have highlights of England versus Iceland on Monday night.

:11:44. > :11:48.Before that, there is live coverage of Belgium against Hungary, tomorrow

:11:49. > :11:54.at 7:30pm. That is followed by Italy and Spain on Monday. And something

:11:55. > :12:12.else to look out for also starts on Monday.

:12:13. > :12:20.Every point, every angle. Wimbledon starts Monday at 11:30am on BBC Two.

:12:21. > :12:21.One game has already been played today and it is Poland who are the

:12:22. > :12:41.first team into the quarterfinals. Kamil Grosicki. And a lovely ball.

:12:42. > :12:46.Blaszczykowski! Six minutes before the half-time whistle!

:12:47. > :13:00.Seferovic with the touch. Shaqiri! What a goal! Studying. Absolutely

:13:01. > :13:07.stunning. That is a candidate for goal of the tournament.

:13:08. > :13:19.Left footed... Way, way, way wide. Can he send them through? To win it

:13:20. > :13:24.for Poland... And he does! Poland into the quarterfinals for the first

:13:25. > :13:29.time ever. Swiss Hearts broken. Imagine losing after scoring a goal

:13:30. > :13:33.like Shaqiri's. So Poland are through, they will face Croatia or

:13:34. > :13:38.Portugal in the last eight. A reminder that Wales or Northern

:13:39. > :13:41.Ireland play the winners of Hungary or Belgium. England would come up

:13:42. > :13:44.against France or the Republic of Ireland should they progress. Now we

:13:45. > :13:46.can cross over to the Parc des Princes to hear from Chris Brunt and

:13:47. > :13:53.John Hartson. Thank you very much, two Welsh man

:13:54. > :13:57.and a Northern Ireland man. I think Chris Brunt is happier, are you? We

:13:58. > :14:00.had a couple of half-chances and shots. Hennessey had to make a

:14:01. > :14:04.couple of saves. Michael will be happy with that. Wells can play

:14:05. > :14:09.better they have to play better to stay in this tournament Absolutely.

:14:10. > :14:12.65% of possession to Northern Ireland's 35%. It's what you do with

:14:13. > :14:18.that possession. Northern Ireland have stifled the threat of Gareth

:14:19. > :14:22.Bale and Aaron Ramsey. We looked nor dangerous when we went long up to

:14:23. > :14:27.Vokes and got the knock downs and the secretary balls. That is where

:14:28. > :14:37.we look dangerous. From the Russia performance to today, nowhere near

:14:38. > :14:45.it. Chris Coleman will know they can do better. Northern Ireland was

:14:46. > :14:50.better in that tie against Russia When Joe got on the ball they are

:14:51. > :14:53.around him. Not allowing space in behind for Bale to run into.

:14:54. > :14:56.Tactically, Northern Ireland have won that first half battle. Can

:14:57. > :15:01.these Northern Ireland midfielders, bearing in mind that Northern

:15:02. > :15:05.Ireland have had two massive games against owe Poland and Germany, can

:15:06. > :15:09.they keep up the intensity? That is the question. We are doing well to

:15:10. > :15:13.close the ball down. When Bale and Ramsey get on it we are limiting the

:15:14. > :15:18.space for them and making them play backwards all the time. As the game

:15:19. > :15:24.wears on it might open up a bit. From our point of view, hopefully it

:15:25. > :15:28.won't. When fans are under scrutiny I can report two sets of crazy

:15:29. > :15:32.passionate fans here in the stadium. That's definitely the case there.

:15:33. > :15:35.They have been brilliant right throughout the tournament in getting

:15:36. > :15:38.on. Red and green shirts together going to the game and enjoying it,

:15:39. > :15:42.exactly the way it should be, of course. What we'd like to see is

:15:43. > :15:46.better football in the second-half I think so. Both teams can play

:15:47. > :15:51.better. Chris, you know, hit the nail on the head. Michael will be in

:15:52. > :15:55.there pleased. Tactically with how the game is going he might want more

:15:56. > :15:59.as the game goes on. He doesn't want to give too much away you know what

:16:00. > :16:04.is at the other end of the field we had the better of the first half, no

:16:05. > :16:09.question. The high pressure can be draining especially in the heat.

:16:10. > :16:13.It's warm today Absolutely. They were pinned up against Germany

:16:14. > :16:16.defending and difending. Whether that has taken it out of them in the

:16:17. > :16:20.second-half. Good point. It's hard work to do that. If they are going

:16:21. > :16:23.to continue to do, that they have to leave space in behind. The longer

:16:24. > :16:27.the game goes on, Bale might come into it more with his pace. For

:16:28. > :16:30.Wales, what can they do to get themselves out of this situation

:16:31. > :16:34.where they seem to be struggling, not playing well. What do you think

:16:35. > :16:39.Chris Coleman will be saying at half-time, a telling off? Maybe pass

:16:40. > :16:43.the ball to each othered a and move. It's a big occasion, enjoy it. Neil

:16:44. > :16:48.and Taylor and Gunter look nervous on the ball, giving the ball away.

:16:49. > :16:53.But, we won so many games like this, the games are dead rubber. All of a

:16:54. > :16:56.sudden one of our top players scores. Results are the only thing

:16:57. > :17:01.that matters today. Yeah. Get through. We want to be out there

:17:02. > :17:03.smiling after, not crying. It's a massive prize at stake. It looks

:17:04. > :17:09.like that is what they are feeling out there, doesn't it? It look as

:17:10. > :17:14.nervy occasion. Understandably so. I said before the game 21 guys out

:17:15. > :17:23.there, it's the biggest game of their lives. Bale is used to this

:17:24. > :17:28.situation. Isn't it 22 There is number 22 - he doesn't play that

:17:29. > :17:33.number on the pitch, of course. Northern Ireland, English referee,

:17:34. > :17:38.Martin Atkinson leading the players back out. Chris Coleman, a few words

:17:39. > :17:45.on the side of the pitch. This is up for grabs. Taking it by the chuff of

:17:46. > :17:50.the neck, you suspect. Let's see. Back to our commenting team.

:17:51. > :17:56.COMMENTATOR: Thank you. All eyes on Gareth Bale and whether he can

:17:57. > :18:00.deliver in the next 45 minutes or maybe 75 minutes, or maybe with a

:18:01. > :18:06.penalty at the end of it. Lots still to be decided. No changes made to

:18:07. > :18:12.either side, in terms of personnel, for the restart. Wimbledon starts

:18:13. > :18:19.next week. This has been more French Open, opponents on the baseline.

:18:20. > :18:27.Somebody needs to come to the net. Northern Ireland set off in

:18:28. > :18:31.attacking mode. A throw-in is won, courtesy of Chris Gunter's block.

:18:32. > :18:35.Stuart Dallas won, it the only player on the field who has to tread

:18:36. > :18:40.a little more carefully in the second-half, having been booked.

:18:41. > :18:52.Corey Evans. Allen wins the ball from Dallas. Corey Evans promptly

:18:53. > :18:54.wins it back. It stayed in. Ward was badgered off it by Chester. Here's

:18:55. > :19:20.Vokes. Three on him. Steven Davis. Ramsey with the flick to Vokes.

:19:21. > :19:27.Aaron Hughes. Couldn't afford to slip up with Taylor. Definitely

:19:28. > :19:32.started quicker for me, both sets of players closing down quickly. I have

:19:33. > :19:35.a feeling Northern Ireland are winning more battles in the middle

:19:36. > :19:38.of the park. You won't get too much time on the ball. The referee will

:19:39. > :19:42.have a quiet word with Kyle Lafferty. Pointing out minor

:19:43. > :19:46.offences, very minor. More to do with his size that have accumulated

:19:47. > :19:52.over the game. He doesn't jump. He makes a back he stands there and

:19:53. > :19:54.make as back. The referee issic making a point. Ben Davies jumps for

:19:55. > :20:09.it. Up goes Hughes. Off Taylor. Tactically, looking at

:20:10. > :20:14.the start of the second-half, the dieingal ball is not on for Wales,

:20:15. > :20:21.the wing-backs are marked. When the ball goes up to Vokes, it's breaking

:20:22. > :20:24.down. In in the next 20 minutes he might bring on Robson-Kanu for the

:20:25. > :20:28.ball over the top, to stretch the play to get Wales up the pitch and

:20:29. > :20:34.get the second balls. At the minute it's not working. This is good. This

:20:35. > :20:37.is Lafferty. Determined run. Solid piece of defending from Chester. Not

:20:38. > :20:43.such a good out ball to Aaron Ramsey. Steven Davis. Chased by

:20:44. > :20:57.Ramsey. Mansion to get free of him though. On balance to clear. Not

:20:58. > :21:04.away yet. Shot from Ward. Davis. Ben Davies got in the way of the shot.

:21:05. > :21:11.Seems to be a little bit more desire to do something positive from both

:21:12. > :21:20.teams. Corey Evans, Lafferty. Good bit of work from Allen. That will be

:21:21. > :21:25.a free-kick for Wales. It was Stuart Dallas. He has to be careful. We

:21:26. > :21:29.made that point. It was a very close decision. He is pleading with the

:21:30. > :21:33.referee. Michael, I said at half-time, he might have to consider

:21:34. > :21:38.bringing a substitute on if there is going to be a challenge like that

:21:39. > :21:43.and he gets sent off. A couple of options come to mind in that

:21:44. > :21:48.position. Shane Ferguson. That was a good tackle by Dallas, though. They

:21:49. > :21:51.will want to keep him on if he keeps playing like this. Lafferty, he's

:21:52. > :21:56.caught. When he goes down, you know about it. Real positive start from

:21:57. > :22:02.Northern Ireland in the second-half on the front foot. They have come

:22:03. > :22:07.out of the break the sharper. Not so sure it's a foul. He has seen Ashley

:22:08. > :22:10.Williams coming? . He was on his way down. He has the free-kick from the

:22:11. > :22:14.referee. You are right, I think they have come out the brighter of the

:22:15. > :22:17.two. They are closing down and winning the ball back and recycling

:22:18. > :22:27.it and putting more pressure on Wales. Lafferty is up and will be

:22:28. > :22:28.standing tall again for this. It's usually Norwood who delivers. This

:22:29. > :22:45.one is going to be left to Dallas. McAuley had a word with Lafferty. It

:22:46. > :22:53.looks like they have something organised. Get the ball in just

:22:54. > :23:02.right for anything to work. Dallas has that responsibility. It's

:23:03. > :23:07.Norwood. Now it's Corey Evans. Here's Ward. It's blocked and the

:23:08. > :23:12.whistle goes anyway to give Wales a free-kick. Was that maybe a bit

:23:13. > :23:16.overdone It was maybe a bit overdone. It worked out for them, I

:23:17. > :23:21.don't know how. Too many touches, I thought. The shot comes in and hits

:23:22. > :23:24.the knee of Joe Ledley. The free-kick had been given before

:23:25. > :23:31.that. Maybe for pushing or shoving in the box. Is it off side? A late

:23:32. > :23:41.challenge comes in. That's what it's for. Nice kick by Dallas. Allen.

:23:42. > :23:46.Bale. Once again, three, four men around him. Crowding him out. Doing

:23:47. > :23:51.exceptionally well against Gareth Bale today, this Northern Ireland

:23:52. > :23:58.side. All it needs is one moment, one chance, one runned and he could

:23:59. > :24:04.be the difference. That's Williams. That was, oh, not very composed by

:24:05. > :24:07.the Wales captain. Given it away. Not a good start from a Welsh point

:24:08. > :24:16.of view. Northern Ireland well on top. Dallas. Curled in - I was going

:24:17. > :24:21.to say for Lafferty. He's never going to get anywhere near that. The

:24:22. > :24:27.hand is raised by a way of apology guy Norwood. It's five minutes in

:24:28. > :24:31.the second-half I would make a change much I would put Robson-Kanu

:24:32. > :24:35.on. Get in between the three centre-halfs. They have no out ball,

:24:36. > :24:39.Wales. It keeps breaking down. If he stretches the play, that means,

:24:40. > :24:43.Ramsey, Allen, Ledley can have more space. Having a look down, it's Hal

:24:44. > :24:48.Robson-Kanu who will take his vest off in a moment or two. Hardly had

:24:49. > :24:52.time to get up-and-down the touchline and warm-up.

:24:53. > :25:01.Ward. Joe Allen gets in front of him. Lafferty prevents any thoughts

:25:02. > :25:26.of a quick free-kick. Davies, Chester. Ramsey. S Great

:25:27. > :25:29.ball. It's wide from Vokes. It's the cross of the match. It's the chance

:25:30. > :25:35.of the match for the Wales centre forward. What a ball from Aaron

:25:36. > :25:42.Ramsey. He's got in at the back of Cathcart. Cathcart switches off, but

:25:43. > :25:47.Vokes, he just seems to not twisted his head far enough round. As you

:25:48. > :25:50.can see, it comes off the top of his head really, he doesn't direct it on

:25:51. > :25:56.to the target. A great opportunity that. Sam Vokes, what a chance for

:25:57. > :26:04.Wales. Might end up being his last touch of the game. Gunter. Just

:26:05. > :26:08.shows you, you r how tight it is. How quickly things can change.

:26:09. > :26:15.Northern Ireland on top overall, but they haven't scored and they were

:26:16. > :26:20.very nearly behind. That may be the difference. Ramsey on the field,

:26:21. > :26:24.Bale, Wales have players who can do that? That was the first moment of

:26:25. > :26:29.real quality on the pitch. That ball from Ramsey. Whipped it in behind

:26:30. > :26:34.the back three of Northern Ireland. He has seen the run of Sam Vokes. He

:26:35. > :26:38.has got to hit the target there, big Sam Vokes. He hasn't had to get to

:26:39. > :26:45.the by-line either. It was a quality delivery, I have to say from Aaron

:26:46. > :26:47.Ramsey. You were both straining next to me, both putting your nuts on

:26:48. > :27:13.that. -- necks. Good play. Davis. McGovern. Hardly mentioned the name

:27:14. > :27:18.McGovern all match. Le he hasn't had to make a save, has he? There is the

:27:19. > :27:26.substitution you were talking about, Robbie. As called, Sam Vokes

:27:27. > :27:36.replaced by Hal Robson-Kanu. The man who scored the winner, the historic

:27:37. > :27:47.first winning goal for in a European Championship finals match.

:27:48. > :27:54.Craig Cathcart, with the Northern Ireland throw-in. Only one option

:27:55. > :28:06.here, it's up to Lafferty. Taylor's header. Jonny Evans. Lafferty's

:28:07. > :28:12.onside. Unable to bring it down. Neil Taylor stayed #1wi67d on.

:28:13. > :28:15.Terrible pass. Didn't find Gunter. Norwood had a go. Hennessey made it

:28:16. > :28:23.look pretty routine. I suppose it was. Stop giving the ball away in

:28:24. > :28:27.Wales' final third. Square passes across your own back five. It is a

:28:28. > :28:31.back five, with Gunter and Taylor playing so deeped, pushed back by

:28:32. > :28:39.Northern Ireland. Robson-Kanu, put the ball into the channel. We said

:28:40. > :28:45.this about the mistakes. One mistake can be the difference and it's who

:28:46. > :28:52.is going to make it. That's it. Bale.

:28:53. > :29:03.Corey Evans to brother Jonny. Steven Davis.

:29:04. > :29:15.Ledley made life awkward for him and then for Evans, Corey Evans. Here's

:29:16. > :29:18.Ramsey. Taylor. Wide left, coming in from the other side is Gunter. Bale

:29:19. > :29:28.is up there. Gareth Bale, draws the foul. It's

:29:29. > :29:34.Oliver Norwood much you could see that happening before it actually

:29:35. > :29:40.happened. You can see he was playing for it. He knows it's coming.

:29:41. > :29:44.Minimal contact, but I think it is a free-kick. I agree with you Gerry,

:29:45. > :29:54.it's a free-kick. Gareth Bale, give him the ball early. A great

:29:55. > :29:59.diagonal. Norwood's diving free-kick. What an opportunity for

:30:00. > :30:07.that man, Gareth Bale. Can it be his third goal from a free-kick? The

:30:08. > :30:11.first diagonal ball that has come off he has an opportunity. Get the

:30:12. > :30:18.wall lined up. He is mean in these positions. McGovern was superb

:30:19. > :30:24.against Germany. What has he learnt from watching Gareth Bale at the

:30:25. > :30:32.tournament so far? Bale's ready to hit him. Bale brings the save from

:30:33. > :30:36.McGovern. He has learnt enough. Gareth Bale appeals for handball as

:30:37. > :30:44.Jonny Evans strides away and finds Jamie Ward. Ward fouled. Northern

:30:45. > :30:49.Ireland free-kick. We've got a game on now. This is more like. It was it

:30:50. > :30:53.a handball? On the counter-attack, Jamie Ward gets crunched by a Wales

:30:54. > :30:59.defender, Taylor, the game has actually come to life in the 57th

:31:00. > :31:06.It's a Battle minute. Of Britain definitely, end-to-end stuff. Each

:31:07. > :31:11.side evenly matched. A challenge on Ward. This is a the save. Good

:31:12. > :31:16.goalkeeping Michael McGovern. Dips over the wall and he gets his body

:31:17. > :31:22.in the way here. Excellent strike from Gareth Bale. Excellent save.

:31:23. > :31:26.Another dipper rather than a swerver. That's over towards Dallas,

:31:27. > :31:32.who has knocked it back. It's gone behind for a corner. You are right,

:31:33. > :31:37.Robbie, it is game on better pace of it. The handball wasn't the correct

:31:38. > :32:00.position, Martin Atkinson, he is having a good job, we must say.

:32:01. > :32:15.The intensity level has gone up. I think that will suit Wales. Stuart

:32:16. > :32:18.Dallas misjudging his run there. If he had judged the plight of the

:32:19. > :32:28.ball, he might have got a free header at goal. The throw goes to

:32:29. > :32:33.Northern Ireland. Coming up to the hour mark, the two thirds point.

:32:34. > :32:41.You can just centred in the stadium, both sets of fans have been quieter

:32:42. > :32:44.than usual. They have both probably come to this game thinking, you

:32:45. > :32:49.know, we have a real chance of getting to the quarterfinals. I am

:32:50. > :32:52.looking down below and I can see Niall McGinn warming up and he would

:32:53. > :32:59.be a good player to come on at this stage in an open match. Northern

:33:00. > :33:04.Ireland force another corner. There is a palpable tension in the air.

:33:05. > :33:15.Nobody wants this trip of a lifetime to end too early.

:33:16. > :33:24.Everybody back for Wales. Delivered too deep for everybody. Northern

:33:25. > :33:29.Ireland, we know they are dangerous from set pieces but they haven't

:33:30. > :33:33.been quite right. That is wasted and Michael is asking the question. What

:33:34. > :33:38.is that? We have people making runs. We certainly expected a better

:33:39. > :33:42.delivery and so did I. Wales are going to make a second quick-change

:33:43. > :33:46.in a moment. Jonny Williams is going to leave the bench. I think it will

:33:47. > :33:51.be Ledley who comes up, Jonny Williams will go and play alongside

:33:52. > :33:58.Gareth Bale with Ramsey dropping next to Joe Allen. Let's see if

:33:59. > :34:15.mystical Robbie has got another one right in a moment.

:34:16. > :34:18.Ramsey chased by Jonny Evans, who timed it right but couldn't quite

:34:19. > :34:50.complete the task. It will sail straight behind and I

:34:51. > :34:53.think the Nord has gone to the officials on the touchline, which

:34:54. > :35:01.means the second Wales change is now going to happen.

:35:02. > :35:11.And it is Joe Ledley to go off. You know a bit about this game, don't

:35:12. > :35:15.you? I think Joe Ledley, to even be in this competition, it is his

:35:16. > :35:19.fourth game, he has done exceptionally well. Jonny Williams

:35:20. > :35:23.in the first game against Slovakia was very good, good on the ball,

:35:24. > :35:27.good movement and I think Ramsey dropping in with Joe Allen, if he

:35:28. > :35:33.can get his head band and look for the pace of Robson-Kanu or to the

:35:34. > :35:37.feet of Bale, it is a good move. Fresh legs, and I think Northern

:35:38. > :35:45.Ireland will be looking at that shortly. Shane Ferguson is also

:35:46. > :36:12.warming up, another white -- wide player.

:36:13. > :36:19.Jonny Evans spots the chance to find water.

:36:20. > :36:22.-- Jamie Ward. Good bit of awareness and quick thinking from Steven

:36:23. > :36:47.Davis. Better pressing from Wales.

:36:48. > :36:48.Certainly affecting the ball and stopping Northern Ireland playing so

:36:49. > :37:07.freely. They might just try and repeat the

:37:08. > :37:12.trick. The message has gone to the Northern Ireland bench that Jonny

:37:13. > :37:13.Evans is struggling here. They aren't. Absolutely flying, those

:37:14. > :37:29.fans in green. Having won the throw in, makes his

:37:30. > :37:57.way into the penalty area. There was a little 1-2 on with

:37:58. > :38:03.Steven Davis, I thought it was going to happen. It is a good ball in from

:38:04. > :38:11.Stuart Dallas but no one on the end of it. A moment ago, Jonny Evans had

:38:12. > :38:15.his hands on his knees and I think he has just indicated again, he held

:38:16. > :38:18.his right leg. It could be a straightforward can see how he gets

:38:19. > :38:20.on in the next couple of minutes. Something Michael will keep an eye

:38:21. > :38:31.on. Don't forget, you can watch

:38:32. > :38:39.highlights of all three of today's last 16 ties tonight on BBC One. The

:38:40. > :38:48.best of this game, Poland and Switzerland, an absolute thriller,

:38:49. > :38:52.and Croatia against Portugal. Have we still got the most thrilling

:38:53. > :38:54.moment of this game to come? Let's hope so. It is getting better,

:38:55. > :39:17.though. Ramsey times that has nicely. Cross

:39:18. > :39:31.towards Robson-Kanu. Bale once it left. Ramsey wants to

:39:32. > :39:37.move the other way. Allen. Jonny Williams had to work to keep the

:39:38. > :39:39.ball. Then run through everybody with it before stumbling into the

:39:40. > :40:03.penalty area. Veil -- Bale to quickly Steven

:40:04. > :40:05.Davis. Yellow card. It is a poor challenge from Steven Davis

:40:06. > :40:13.proprietor that, Jonny Williams driving at the heart of the Northern

:40:14. > :40:18.Ireland team. -- but prior to that. Steven Davis has caught Gareth Bale

:40:19. > :40:19.on the left shin. Free kick, opportunity for Ramsey to put the

:40:20. > :40:34.ball into a good area. He hasn't managed to do that. It is

:40:35. > :40:43.a poor delivery. He has got to clear the man on the near post.

:40:44. > :41:02.Williams adding a little extra energy to Wales' play.

:41:03. > :41:11.Dallas try to keep his feet but finally wilted. He has been really

:41:12. > :41:16.lively since he has come on, Jonny Williams. He wants the ball on the

:41:17. > :41:22.half term in dangerous areas, wants to go with one tos around the box.

:41:23. > :41:27.Good substitution. Substitution coming from Michael O'Neill. Conor

:41:28. > :41:34.Washington, Centre forward. Is it going to be Jamie or Kyle Lafferty?

:41:35. > :41:44.Will he keep them macro up? This is interesting. Jamie Ward. He is going

:41:45. > :41:49.to keep two up and both of them are hard, if Conor Washington gets on

:41:50. > :41:55.some of the flick on is from Kyle Lafferty, he can cause damage. He

:41:56. > :42:00.made his international debut when the sides met in March in Cardiff.

:42:01. > :42:04.There is a connection with Wales, he made his name in league football

:42:05. > :42:06.with Newport County, then onto Peter Borren and now a Queens Park Rangers

:42:07. > :42:38.man. -- Peter Boro. He was just a little bit too far

:42:39. > :42:44.away, I thought it should have been closer when the flick on came in,

:42:45. > :42:52.but he is very quick over the first or five -- five or six yards.

:42:53. > :42:56.Gunter has got loads of room on the ride. Ramsey trying to do it all by

:42:57. > :43:07.himself at times. I think that is where you want Conor

:43:08. > :43:15.Washington. Yes, his pace and fresh legs. But the tempo has definitely

:43:16. > :43:28.increased. So have the amount of open spaces on the field.

:43:29. > :43:34.A bit of a mix-up. Jonny Evans with an accusation to Michael McGovern

:43:35. > :43:40.and that has got the Wales' fans to their feet. Chris Gunter will cover

:43:41. > :43:43.90 minutes, 120 minutes, such great energy, great athlete. Good shutting

:43:44. > :43:57.down by the right wingback. Chased by Davis, he can't dive in,

:43:58. > :44:04.on a card. Williams. Jonny Evans doesn't have to dive in when he

:44:05. > :44:09.reads the ball like that. Norwood. Lafferty's on his way. Great ball.

:44:10. > :44:16.Kyle Lafferty. Takes it nicely. That is really good stuff from Chester.

:44:17. > :44:22.Magnificent defending. Wrong side for a minute. Bale. If anybody can

:44:23. > :44:27.keep it in, he can. He wisely gave up the chase when he realised it was

:44:28. > :44:33.beyond him. Chester used his body. Careful not to make a bad challenge.

:44:34. > :44:36.Got the right side of Lafferty. Left foot across, used his body and

:44:37. > :44:41.turned away from danger. Great defending. He had a tournament and

:44:42. > :44:46.you wonder why he started at the tail end of the season for West

:44:47. > :44:51.Brom, he has been superb? Look at how Northern Ireland defended with

:44:52. > :44:57.McAuley and Jonny Evans they have good centre-halfs. Chester with this

:44:58. > :45:03.tournament, Tony Pulis probably thinking - He had his 177. Because

:45:04. > :45:11.he is less than six foot he's not too keen. Put him in as a full-back.

:45:12. > :45:18.But he has been excellent today. Ramsey. Robson-Kanu. Hasn't had a

:45:19. > :45:25.chance to really run and test his pace against McAuley yet.

:45:26. > :45:54.Second-half Northern Ireland shading the possession stats. Ashley

:45:55. > :45:59.Williams. Johnny Williams. Cruncher that one. They did that so well

:46:00. > :46:05.today Northern Ireland. When Wales have possession they pressed them

:46:06. > :46:12.high up the park. Have you to say Michael O'Neill tactically has gone

:46:13. > :46:19.well. It was like shadow boxing in the first half. Who will win the

:46:20. > :46:28.game? Will it go to penalties, you can't see anyone scoring. 17 minutes

:46:29. > :46:45.of the 90 to go. If you booked anywhere for dinner in

:46:46. > :46:47.celebration you might have to put it back a bit much we might be going

:46:48. > :47:03.the distance. Ramsey. Bale. There's the acceleration that

:47:04. > :47:09.we've seldom seen in the game yet. Taylor gets out of his way. Oh, well

:47:10. > :47:12.done. Craig Cathcart wouldn't. Good lock from Cathcart. He wins the

:47:13. > :47:18.throw-in. That is what he needs. More time on the ball, Gareth Bale,

:47:19. > :47:28.and space to run. Ramsey. It was on to Gunter for a second. Bale. Bale's

:47:29. > :47:32.cross behind Robson-Kanu. Williams. Ramsey.

:47:33. > :47:44.Robson-Kanu. He has to be strong. Ramsey. Bale, behind him. Bale with

:47:45. > :47:51.another wicked delivery. Turned into his own net by the unfortunate

:47:52. > :47:56.Gareth McAuley. Wales lead! After all this time, after being kept

:47:57. > :48:05.quiet for so long, it is Gareth Bale who has made the big difference.

:48:06. > :48:13.He had time, he had space on this left hand side. He whips it into a

:48:14. > :48:18.magnificent area. Incredible goalkeeping. Behind the Northern

:48:19. > :48:23.Ireland defensive line. Watch this for a ball. Whipped in. McAuley had

:48:24. > :48:27.to go for it. If he didn't go for it, Hal Robson-Kanu was in for the

:48:28. > :48:33.tap-in. But it's that man, Gareth Bale. Just watch the way he whips

:48:34. > :48:40.this ball around the back four. Unlucky, McAuley. What a ball. What

:48:41. > :48:43.a goal. 1-0 Wales. It's all about the delivery, as Robbie said.

:48:44. > :48:47.Fantastic delivery. I feel so southerly sorry for Gareth McAuley,

:48:48. > :48:53.who has had a magnificent game. All to do for Northern Ireland. Can they

:48:54. > :48:55.come back? A massive quarter of an hour ahead. Wales 1, Northern

:48:56. > :49:06.Ireland 0. Nothing McAuley could do about it.

:49:07. > :49:18.Nothing McGovern could do about it in goal. It's the Wales fanes who

:49:19. > :49:25.are singing in t sunshine. Johnny Williams, returned by Bale.

:49:26. > :49:32.He's been magnificent since he's come on, Johnny Williams. Wants the

:49:33. > :49:34.ball. Not scared to try something different. Great substitution from

:49:35. > :49:50.Chris Coleman. Chris Gunter. Allen. Robson-Kanu. He played his

:49:51. > :49:58.part in the build-up to the goal as well, the other substitute? Yeah, I

:49:59. > :50:02.think key players like Ramsey. Two attempts, the second one was a great

:50:03. > :50:05.delivery. Gareth McAuley couldn't let it go. Robson-Kanu was behind

:50:06. > :50:11.him. He was going to slot it in. Unfortunate. Other end now though.

:50:12. > :50:19.Gunter, puts it away from Lafferty in time. Won by Allen. Wanted

:50:20. > :50:25.Robson-Kanu to be running to where he put the ball. This should suit

:50:26. > :50:29.Wales even more now. Northern Ireland have got to go and try and

:50:30. > :50:33.get the equaliser. They will leave space in behind. Gareth Bale in

:50:34. > :50:36.number 10 position for free to run at the Northern Ireland defence. You

:50:37. > :50:41.have to say, Northern Ireland have been brilliant so far. Unlucky with

:50:42. > :50:49.that. Great ball from Bale. McAuley had to get a foot on. Small margins.

:50:50. > :50:54.Wide player ready to come on. Michael will throw caution to the

:50:55. > :51:03.wind and have a go these final 15 minutes. Aaron Hughes with the

:51:04. > :51:08.throw. Robson-Kanu. Bale, can't find him again. Here comes the second

:51:09. > :51:12.Northern Ireland substitution. They weren't quite ready. The throw-in

:51:13. > :51:19.was taken quickly by Cathcart. When it goes out again it's Wales' ball

:51:20. > :51:20.to put back into play. A little too hasty all round. Now it will be the

:51:21. > :51:37.Northern Ireland change. Taking time to sort himself out with

:51:38. > :51:42.the buttons on the board. He does make his way to indicate that Oliver

:51:43. > :51:47.Norwood is the player to be hooked. It's time for Northern Ireland to

:51:48. > :51:53.begin the McGinn. Naill McGinn, scorer against Ukraine in that

:51:54. > :52:00.famous 2-0 win. He's got pace. Good on a one-on-one situation. If he can

:52:01. > :52:08.get it up for the ball. You will be able to hear it in the background.

:52:09. > :52:16.That's the Wales fan singing - Don't Take Me Home. They aren't going

:52:17. > :52:25.anywhere as it stands. Or they will, they will be going north to Lille.

:52:26. > :52:30.Lafferty. Taylor was climbing. The only way he could have got above

:52:31. > :52:38.Kyle Lafferty. Northern Ireland free-kick. With Oliver Norwood

:52:39. > :52:42.seeing who will take it. Looks like it's Steven Davis. Forward go

:52:43. > :53:02.Cathcart, McAuley and Evans J. All the way across to McGinn. The

:53:03. > :53:06.whistle has gone, even before it was popped over the crossbar. The

:53:07. > :53:11.referee has seen something. Is there shoving and pushing going on? Well,

:53:12. > :53:18.there is. Somebody gets bundled over. The referee has already blown

:53:19. > :53:23.the whistle. This is that cross again. Better every time you see it,

:53:24. > :53:27.doesn't it? I said before the game, in an attacking game it would be

:53:28. > :53:31.that man who provides a bit of magic much he didn't score the goal, Bale.

:53:32. > :53:35.For hip to whip the ball into that area, a lot of people would have hit

:53:36. > :53:40.the first man, hit the goalkeeper. He put it exactly the right place.

:53:41. > :53:50.That's why he's one of the best players in the world. McGinn.

:53:51. > :53:55.Washington Telegraphed his intentions to Williams. Martin

:53:56. > :53:59.Atkinson is going to have to stop it. Northern Ireland will be

:54:00. > :54:05.furious. He had no choice. Yeah, a bad collision. Thought he should

:54:06. > :54:09.have brought it earlier, maybe the referee. Two players colliding with

:54:10. > :54:13.each other. You have to make sure they are OK. There was a hesitation

:54:14. > :54:18.because Northern Ireland were pushing forward. When they hit each

:54:19. > :54:29.other as hard as that it had to stop. Johnny Williams it looks the

:54:30. > :54:32.worses to me. It was Ashley Williams desire to win the ball. He's gone

:54:33. > :54:35.through everything there. Won the ball and his body weight has carried

:54:36. > :54:41.him into Johnny Williams. Watch this. Wins the ball. Smashes into

:54:42. > :54:45.Johnny Williams. Corey Evans in behind. Ashley Williams at the

:54:46. > :54:49.front. Whack. He is the meat in the sandwich, isn't he? There is nothing

:54:50. > :55:02.on him. There is plenty on Ashley Williams. Good to see him sitting

:55:03. > :55:07.back up again. Look how quickly Shaun Connolly is sprinting on to

:55:08. > :55:12.the field. Doing their jobs the medical staff. Good to see they are

:55:13. > :55:16.OK. Ashley Williams is taking a bit more time to come around. The Wales

:55:17. > :55:23.fans are coming to the idea that this isn't over. Quarter-final, here

:55:24. > :55:28.they come. Unless there can be a response from the Green and White

:55:29. > :55:40.Army. They never give up and there's eight minutes to go. A lot of goals

:55:41. > :55:44.scored in this Championship late on as Josh Magennis strips off ready to

:55:45. > :55:48.come on. We don't like to see the straecher bearers coming on. I hope

:55:49. > :55:53.that's a precaution. I think he's getting up. He looks OK, Ashley.

:55:54. > :55:59.Giving Ashley Williams plenty of time. Exactly the right thing to do.

:56:00. > :56:04.Bale will need Ashley Williams to captain the leader to stay on this

:56:05. > :56:12.football field it looks like it's his shoulder. The physio doesn't

:56:13. > :56:17.look happy at all. Hope he hasn't put his shoulder out. He's going

:56:18. > :56:18.back into that centre-half position. He will play through anything much

:56:19. > :56:28.he is carrying on with that. Here comes the Northern Ireland

:56:29. > :56:33.change. It is going for broke. You feel for Gareth McAuley. At the

:56:34. > :56:38.moment, his touch into his own net that he could do precious little

:56:39. > :56:43.about. It's settling this last 16 tie. It's needs must. Centre-back

:56:44. > :56:48.off, centre forward on. Josh Magennis, who once, once upon a

:56:49. > :56:53.time, played for Cardiff City he joined them as a Yeah, that's right

:56:54. > :56:56.goalkeeper. . He's fresh legs. They have gambled their three at the back

:56:57. > :57:00.now. I think Michael's done the right thing. Hasn't got a lot of

:57:01. > :57:01.options. Ball given back to Northern Ireland, which is good

:57:02. > :57:16.sportsmanship. Launch it as far away as he can and

:57:17. > :57:21.as close to Kyle Lafferty as he can. Chester was there again.

:57:22. > :57:27.Robson-Kanu. Cathcart all over him. Good play from Robson-Kanu there.

:57:28. > :57:34.Holding the ball up for his side. Throw-in for his team. We have seen

:57:35. > :57:38.late goals throughout the tournament. Seven scored in

:57:39. > :57:46.injury-time so far. Late goal when the sides met in Cardiff in March.

:57:47. > :57:49.Penalty from Simon Church. Will there be a reversal when it really

:57:50. > :57:55.matters here for Northern Ireland? Johnny Williams, none the worse for

:57:56. > :57:59.wear. Back to his buzzing best. Here he is, eating up the ground on Jonny

:58:00. > :58:04.Evans. He very nearly managed to win a corner for his team. Certainly

:58:05. > :58:09.nothing wrong with his pace there. He was flying down that right hand

:58:10. > :58:12.side channel. It wastes more time on the clock. That's the thing that

:58:13. > :58:17.Northern Ireland's enemy. They have to get the ball forward quickly.

:58:18. > :58:22.Five minutes of the 90 to go. A bit of a chunk to add on, not least for

:58:23. > :58:26.the stoppage we had a minute ago. Three up front now for Northern

:58:27. > :58:32.Ireland. Everything will be thrown at Wales in this last five minutes

:58:33. > :58:41.plus whatever injury-time is added by Martin Atkinson. Ramsey.

:58:42. > :58:48.Outcomes are governed to meet Robson-Kanu and it is enough to

:58:49. > :58:55.force the Wales number nine to lose the ball -- out comes Michael

:58:56. > :59:00.McGovern. Going away from goal, it is a difficult one for Robson-Kanu.

:59:01. > :59:04.Ashley Williams can't continue. He has been hanging his left arm by his

:59:05. > :59:07.side since the collision and it is wise that he goes off before that

:59:08. > :59:20.gets worse. He would think that is likely to

:59:21. > :59:26.mean a first run out in the competition for James Collins, that

:59:27. > :59:37.would be the obvious change. Ashley Williams is saying it's fine. But he

:59:38. > :59:41.just sat down and it was clear that was in discomfort. He is staying on

:59:42. > :59:45.the now but he has clamped his left arm into his side and he can't be

:59:46. > :59:53.properly balanced as he gets his first challenge here.

:59:54. > :00:00.From a Northern Ireland perspective, what you do now is get the ball and

:00:01. > :00:05.smash it over Ashley Williams's head and get Kyle Lafferty to challenge

:00:06. > :00:10.him. That has the attackers, they have do put him under pressure.

:00:11. > :00:17.Doesn't Chris, have to take charge here and say we are getting James

:00:18. > :00:27.Collins on. I think he knows Ashley Williams better than anybody. He is

:00:28. > :00:28.carrying his left arm. James Collins is an adequate replacement, no doubt

:00:29. > :00:48.about that. Bale blocked off. Cathcart was in

:00:49. > :00:51.his way. Wales free kick. A little bit of frustration creeping into the

:00:52. > :00:57.Northern Ireland play, a little desperation. It will suit Wales.

:00:58. > :01:05.Free kick, run down the clock. It will suit Wales, stop start. It is

:01:06. > :01:34.clever play. Two minutes and then a bit more.

:01:35. > :01:44.The ball had gone out. Or is it a free kick? Offside is the call.

:01:45. > :01:48.Michael McGovern in a hurry to get the ball forward. Michael O'Neill

:01:49. > :01:54.has that look of this fair on his face, but there is still time.

:01:55. > :02:00.Williams was OK enough to hold off Lafferty and win it there.

:02:01. > :02:22.Ashley Williams, playing lopsided, gets it clear.

:02:23. > :02:28.It is going to be an exciting couple of minutes plus whatever is on the

:02:29. > :02:33.clock. There is still time and they are pushing forward in numbers,

:02:34. > :02:34.Northern Ireland. 90th minute, you would think at least four added onto

:02:35. > :02:46.the end. The Welsh national anthem booms

:02:47. > :02:53.around the Parc des Princes. Outcomes Hennessy and what a good

:02:54. > :02:57.catch that is. Great goal keeping from Hennessy. He hasn't had

:02:58. > :03:04.anything to do this half, he has come through bodies and caught the

:03:05. > :03:08.ball. That is what you need to do. You haven't got the armband on but

:03:09. > :03:17.lead by example and that is what the goalkeeper has done. We are into

:03:18. > :03:21.four minutes of additional time. Josh Magennis managed to win it.

:03:22. > :03:29.Washington sees his chance to close down Hennessy. Wayne Hennessey has

:03:30. > :03:37.to put it out of play. They still dare to dream. Well worn by Joe

:03:38. > :03:46.Allen. Robson-Kanu. That'll be a free kick. Corry Evans was the

:03:47. > :03:51.culprit. Great centre forward play, go across your mouth, go down and

:03:52. > :03:54.get a free kick for your site. You have to say, Chris Coleman's

:03:55. > :03:58.substitutions, the introduction of Robson-Kanu, he saw the play had to

:03:59. > :04:03.be stretch. Jonny Williams has been brilliant. He has got the captain

:04:04. > :04:07.with one arm and he has the goalkeeper catching things and he

:04:08. > :04:16.has Gareth Bale on the park. And he has you out of breath! Ramsey and

:04:17. > :04:25.Bale on the ball. Wales with one foot in the quarterfinals.

:04:26. > :04:31.Not even Jonny Williams' energy will get him to that one. Just about

:04:32. > :04:35.enough time for one more attack if they can get the ball forward. But

:04:36. > :04:36.the clock is ticking and it is certainly against Northern Ireland

:04:37. > :04:53.here. Washington beaten by Chester. Ben Davies comes out to a great

:04:54. > :04:59.Welsh cheer. They haven't had great success in this ground in sporting

:05:00. > :05:04.terms. The Welsh rugby side lost 11 in a row here from 1970 52 when the

:05:05. > :05:11.French side moved to Stade de France. They didn't have a great

:05:12. > :05:14.morning in Dunedin on the other side of the world today, but that doesn't

:05:15. > :05:20.matter to the football fans. Wayne Hennessey will take as much of

:05:21. > :05:38.the two minutes as he possibly dare. It was diagonal but it has caught on

:05:39. > :05:40.the wind or something. Put the ball in the corner, don't smash it to the

:05:41. > :05:53.goalkeeper. Plenty in the middle. Niall McGinn

:05:54. > :05:59.stopped by Neil Taylor. Brilliant, Neil Taylor. Brilliant! Stop the

:06:00. > :06:02.ball coming in the box. Now a chance from the throw. It is Josh Magennis

:06:03. > :06:09.winding up the big one. Close to Wayne Hennessey, who has

:06:10. > :06:19.got a good hand on it. Ramsey had a hand on Steven Davis to

:06:20. > :06:24.give Northern Ireland free kick and for kicking the ball away, he gets a

:06:25. > :06:30.yellow card. Don't worry, Robbie, he is not on one already. I was

:06:31. > :06:34.panicking. One last chance the Northern Ireland. One could free

:06:35. > :06:41.kick is all they have left, it has to be special. They have to send the

:06:42. > :06:45.goalkeeper up, surely? It is not happening yet. It is Steven Davis

:06:46. > :06:53.in. Joe Allen got his head to it. Niall McGinn. He forces a corner.

:06:54. > :06:58.Now Michael McGovern will go. Everybody will bay for him to go. He

:06:59. > :07:05.is on his way, Michael O'Neill has somewhat reluctantly given him the

:07:06. > :07:11.thumbs up. Just head the ball away! Onto Gareth Bale's forehead. A long

:07:12. > :07:17.look at the left wrist from Michael Atkinson. It is another Wales when.

:07:18. > :07:22.On they go to the quarterfinals. -- win. They were together and just

:07:23. > :07:28.that bit stronger than Northern Ireland, who now must dare to dream

:07:29. > :07:35.of another day. This one was sweet while it lasted. We didn't get a

:07:36. > :07:40.thrill a minute excitement but we were always going to get drama.

:07:41. > :07:46.Gerry Armstrong, words per your team first. Magnificent tournament for

:07:47. > :07:51.more than back of its Northern Ireland, gave 100% and one quality

:07:52. > :07:55.delivery from a world-class player was the difference. It could quite

:07:56. > :07:59.easily have been a result the other way. No shame in that and I wish

:08:00. > :08:04.Wales all the best in the quarterfinals. Robbie, you will be

:08:05. > :08:11.singing Don't Take Me Home long into the night. First of all, I echo

:08:12. > :08:16.Gerry's words, Northern Ireland have had a fantastic tournament. It

:08:17. > :08:19.wasn't a great game today but Gareth Bale with a fantastic delivery into

:08:20. > :08:25.the dangerous area. Unfortunate for McAuley but I am going to say this,

:08:26. > :08:32.Wales are in the quarterfinals of the European Championships. And next

:08:33. > :08:34.it is either Hungary all Belgium in Lille. Don't make any other plans

:08:35. > :08:42.for Friday night. Contrasting emotions between the two

:08:43. > :08:49.sets of players and the fans. The Welsh bands joyful after their team

:08:50. > :08:53.triumph and go through to the quarterfinals -- the Welsh fans.

:08:54. > :08:56.Magnificent effort. Not the best game of football we have seen at

:08:57. > :08:59.this tournament by any stretch of the imagination, but for those Wales

:09:00. > :09:03.players, there is any one thing that matters and that is going through

:09:04. > :09:07.into the last eight and once again, it was Gareth Bale who made the

:09:08. > :09:13.difference. Dean Saunders, give me your reaction to that success. How

:09:14. > :09:19.has that just happened? You have called it at half-time, you have

:09:20. > :09:22.seen so many games where Wales don't play well and a bit of Gareth Bale

:09:23. > :09:27.and it happens. Let's be honest, we were awful today, but we have Gareth

:09:28. > :09:31.Bale and Ramsey. That cross he has put in is why he is worth so much

:09:32. > :09:35.money and why we have got results. We have played worse than that and

:09:36. > :09:41.won. But all credit to Northern Ireland, what a tournament they have

:09:42. > :09:44.had. It is sad that one of us have got to get beat. They will be

:09:45. > :09:47.singing all night and of the Northern Ireland van shouldn't be

:09:48. > :09:52.disappointed, great tournament, but we are in the last eight and I can't

:09:53. > :09:55.believe it. Putting things into perspective Northern Ireland, given

:09:56. > :09:59.the players available to Michael O'Neill, getting to the knockout

:10:00. > :10:03.stages was a massive achievement. It is a miracle and he has worked

:10:04. > :10:09.miracles with that group of players. They have given the so much pride.

:10:10. > :10:15.To be in the last 16 of a major tournament was way beyond anybody's

:10:16. > :10:19.expectations. The manager tactically has been brilliant. We just lacked a

:10:20. > :10:24.little bit of quality in the final third. Quality cancer at the end of

:10:25. > :10:29.the day and the quality came from Gareth Bale. -- quality counts.

:10:30. > :10:32.Michael O'Neill can be very proud of his players. We couldn't have asked

:10:33. > :10:36.for more and they gave him every ounce of energy they have right from

:10:37. > :10:41.the very first game to then, so they can go home and be very proud of

:10:42. > :10:52.themselves. From Wales' point of view, I think again Chris Coleman

:10:53. > :10:54.has got a decision right, he took Ledley off and brought Jonny

:10:55. > :10:56.Williams on, who gave them energy, he was prepared to run at the

:10:57. > :10:59.Northern Ireland back five and I think that changed the game. But

:11:00. > :11:02.there was a ball from Aaron Ramsey in the second half which was a bit

:11:03. > :11:05.of quality, a free kick from Gareth Bale and also that unbelievable

:11:06. > :11:09.cross into the box where they got the goal from. Those were the three

:11:10. > :11:15.bits of quality in that second half. He is a massive difference for them.

:11:16. > :11:18.You can see the togetherness of the team, the Welsh side, that

:11:19. > :11:21.determination and led by Ashley Williams, who was pretty much

:11:22. > :11:25.playing with one arm by his side and he wouldn't go off the pitch. We can

:11:26. > :11:30.hear from the Wales manager Chris Coleman.

:11:31. > :11:36.Chris Coleman, quarterfinalists, can you quite believe it? It is amazing.

:11:37. > :11:40.First and foremost, commiserations to Michael and his team. They were

:11:41. > :11:44.better than us today, really, they played very well, made it difficult

:11:45. > :11:49.for us, but we showed a lot of heart, a lot of courage. We showed

:11:50. > :11:52.another side to our game. These boys, the good thing about them is

:11:53. > :11:56.they have got that bit of spirit and when they are not playing so well,

:11:57. > :12:01.they can hang on and that is what we did at times. It wasn't pretty but

:12:02. > :12:06.we came through it. Fantastic achievement and unbelievable support

:12:07. > :12:10.again. Brilliant. Not the Welsh performance we are used to in this

:12:11. > :12:15.competition. Does that put a damper on it at all? No, no. I would rather

:12:16. > :12:19.be standing here in the quarterfinal having not played at our best. We

:12:20. > :12:23.have got to give credit to Northern Ireland. What they do is really

:12:24. > :12:26.difficult to play against. They are really organised, Michael has got

:12:27. > :12:30.them working really hard for each other, they are dangerous and we had

:12:31. > :12:34.to be patient. I have got to say they were probably the better team

:12:35. > :12:37.today but we hung on in there and we showed a lot of courage and like I

:12:38. > :12:42.say, we showed a different side to our game and we got the result. And

:12:43. > :12:47.the draw is so favourable, how far can you go is the big question? It

:12:48. > :12:50.was the classic example today, Northern Ireland were the underdogs

:12:51. > :12:54.today and you wouldn't have thought that looking at the game. That is

:12:55. > :13:00.football. We have just got a plan for the next game, whoever it is.

:13:01. > :13:04.Like I said, we don't look further than the next 45 minutes. We can't

:13:05. > :13:10.afford to. We can enjoy this, though and we will enjoy tonight. I bet you

:13:11. > :13:14.will, congratulations. So Wales' historic run goes on, they

:13:15. > :13:19.have said that the quarterfinal either against Hungary or Belgium

:13:20. > :13:22.next Friday night in Lille. Poland are also into the last eight of the

:13:23. > :13:27.European Championships for the first time and will face the winners

:13:28. > :13:30.tonight's late game between Croatia and Portugal on Thursday. The other

:13:31. > :13:34.side of the draw begins tomorrow when France play the Republic of

:13:35. > :13:37.Ireland. Let's hear from the Northern captain Steven Davis.

:13:38. > :13:44.Difficult I know. Can you sum up your disappointment at losing the

:13:45. > :13:49.game today? We put everything into it. It wasn't meant to be our day, I

:13:50. > :13:53.don't think. We gave it everything. We can't have any regrets. Did you

:13:54. > :13:57.feel at times today you were the much better time The first half we

:13:58. > :14:00.had the better chances in the game much you have to take one of these.

:14:01. > :14:08.I don't think there was a lot in the game. Disappointed in the manner

:14:09. > :14:11.obviously that they scored. Big G doesn't deserve that. He has been

:14:12. > :14:15.excellent. No blame anywhere. We gave everything we can. We are

:14:16. > :14:18.obviously devastated by it. It's been a great journey we can take a

:14:19. > :14:23.lot from the experience. A word for your travelling support here today?

:14:24. > :14:28.Magnificent, again. They have fairly enjoyed the journey as much as us.

:14:29. > :14:36.Everybody sad to see it end today. Thank you. There is the hero of the

:14:37. > :14:40.hour, once again, Gareth Bale with his eldest daughter in his arms.

:14:41. > :14:45.Magical family moments. Look at that. Yeah, your daddy's a hero. He

:14:46. > :14:53.really is. To all the Wales fans in the background there. Three goals

:14:54. > :14:57.and another assist there. He is a star. The whole thing is so

:14:58. > :15:02.important for Welsh football. That result there just - for the country.

:15:03. > :15:06.Gareth Bale is the person they look up to. I know Gareth Bale made the

:15:07. > :15:11.game. It's a shame in many way it is had to be an own-goal from Gareth

:15:12. > :15:18.McAuley. That will be tough for him. He had no alternative though, did

:15:19. > :15:23.he? The quality of the ball. He had to a touch on it or the centre

:15:24. > :15:29.forward just knocks it in. The ball was just a brilliant ball. Almost

:15:30. > :15:31.impossible to defend. Notable there there wasn't the pressure on the

:15:32. > :15:35.ball and pressing on the ball as there was in the first half. That is

:15:36. > :15:41.understandable. It's difficult to do that with the energy. That is just a

:15:42. > :15:46.world-class ball into the box. He had to get something on it he had a

:15:47. > :15:49.tap-in. It's the quality of the ball. He had to put something on it.

:15:50. > :15:59.The accuracy of it. The pace on it. Even the bounce that comes up here.

:16:00. > :16:04.If he doesn't get it there be Robson-Kanu tap it is it? . I'm

:16:05. > :16:10.disappointed for him he has been brilliant. Scored eight goals. If he

:16:11. > :16:13.didn't put his foot on the ball, Robson-Kanu would have scored.

:16:14. > :16:19.Outstanding ball. Almost impossible to defend that. In that wee area you

:16:20. > :16:22.all love. Three or four yards from the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper can't

:16:23. > :16:27.come from it. Brilliant. Let's see with a Gareth Bale has to say.

:16:28. > :16:34.Gareth, this amazing Welsh journey continues? Yeah. What can I say. We

:16:35. > :16:38.knew it was going to be an ugly match. No disrespect to Ireland,

:16:39. > :16:43.they make it difficult to play much we knew that from the start. We knew

:16:44. > :16:46.up top we wouldn't get a lot of ball. There's not much space. The

:16:47. > :16:50.team is the most important thing much we worked hard. We did

:16:51. > :16:54.everything we could. We knew a goal would nick the game. Thankfully, it

:16:55. > :17:01.came to us. Is this just beyond your wildest dreams? Look, you can't ask

:17:02. > :17:04.for any more. It's incredible. I saw your daughter, I think, give you a

:17:05. > :17:09.little note before the game much you put it in your shorts. Are you going

:17:10. > :17:14.to tell me what it said? No, that's between me and her. My friend is

:17:15. > :17:19.having a wedding today. Well done, boys, enjoy the night. You enjoy

:17:20. > :17:22.your night. Thanks. I wonder if they stalled the wedding to watch the

:17:23. > :17:27.game for a little while. I hope so after that mention he got there. Let

:17:28. > :17:31.us look at his free-kick. That was the only other really effort of

:17:32. > :17:37.purpose in the game? We have seen it in the tournament before, haven't

:17:38. > :17:41.we? A brilliant strike from him. The goalkeeper gets across very well.

:17:42. > :17:45.He's done his homework there. Good save. Seen two of those go in.

:17:46. > :17:51.Absolutely. The keeper does very well there. He hits the target all

:17:52. > :17:57.the time, Gary. It's a difficult skill. You see other players trying

:17:58. > :18:02.to do it. Even Ronaldo. He mastered. He makes the keeper work almost

:18:03. > :18:06.every free-kick. He's brilliant. Yawny Williams, you made a

:18:07. > :18:10.difference to them when he game on. He gave them an aring in and got

:18:11. > :18:17.between the lines? Sharp, carries the ball and takes people on. He

:18:18. > :18:19.attracts players, gets in between. Attracts two or three players the

:18:20. > :18:24.way he carries. It he looks dangerous. In the first game he

:18:25. > :18:27.played well. I thought it was unlucky he wasn't playing. He made a

:18:28. > :18:33.difference to us. Asking a different question, wasn't he, when he came

:18:34. > :18:37.on. He's done really well. Robson-Kanu didn't do a lot when he

:18:38. > :18:44.came on. He was in the right place where he should have been when the

:18:45. > :18:49.ball came in. He will eliminate people. The space is opened up then.

:18:50. > :18:53.I thought he was excellent. Made a difference. Another clean sheet for

:18:54. > :18:57.Wales. Let us hear from one of their defenders, Ben Davies. It took a

:18:58. > :19:01.huge effort out there today. How does it feel to be a

:19:02. > :19:06.quarter-finalist at the European Championships? Yes. We always had

:19:07. > :19:12.targets, but to finally get there and to grind it out the way we did

:19:13. > :19:20.today was superb. It wasn't perhaps your prettiest performance of the

:19:21. > :19:25.tournament some far shall you came up against a strong Northern Irish

:19:26. > :19:30.team, what do you take it from it? A good side hard to break down. We are

:19:31. > :19:32.not the only team who has problems. Shows resilience that different

:19:33. > :19:37.dimension to our game we have got. To win it like that was nice. . Huge

:19:38. > :19:43.celebrations with an amazing support. They have been fantastic

:19:44. > :19:46.throughout the tournament. Given thefl them something else to be

:19:47. > :19:51.happy about? Yes, to give something back to the fans who came out here.

:19:52. > :19:54.We know it's a lot of money and a lot of travelling following us.

:19:55. > :19:58.Moments like this make it worth it. You won't have looked too far ahead

:19:59. > :20:03.before today. Belgium or Hungary next. I'm sure you will watch the

:20:04. > :20:08.game. Do you have any preferences or what do you need to take into that

:20:09. > :20:12.game? Hard to say. We are focused on ourselves, like you said. The way we

:20:13. > :20:17.have been playing we will have a go against any side. They certainly

:20:18. > :20:21.will. Bags of spirit on that game and in the studio. The last-minute

:20:22. > :20:24.of the game Neil was shouting at the monitors, shouting to get the ball

:20:25. > :20:27.in the box. Dean was sat there watching it through his fingers

:20:28. > :20:33.like, that weren't you? It was extraordinary tension. The kind of

:20:34. > :20:36.spirit was epitomised by Ashley Williams, the captain, with his

:20:37. > :20:49.injury that he sustained. His spirit. He wasn't going off, was he?

:20:50. > :20:57.No, a nasty coalition. -- collision. It's painful. They wanted Collins

:20:58. > :21:01.on. He wasn't coming off. I'm fine, he says. He is in the middle of the

:21:02. > :21:08.huddle talking to all the players. They are all mates. Fine. I'm fine.

:21:09. > :21:11.Leave me on. Superb. A group of them have grown up together. That gets

:21:12. > :21:18.you through the bad patches we had today. Brilliant. It was a long bad

:21:19. > :21:22.patch, actually we had today 89 minute one! ! Reflections on

:21:23. > :21:27.Northern Ireland generally? It's been a brilliant ride. From

:21:28. > :21:33.qualification to Hungary away we won 2-1. A goal down, won 2-1. We have

:21:34. > :21:37.never done that. The qualification was brilliant. Topped the Group,

:21:38. > :21:41.made it to the Euros, had a ball and we need to build on that. Whether we

:21:42. > :21:47.will lose players. We need a conveyer belt coming through.

:21:48. > :21:52.Fantastic for the country and the IFFA as well. Michael O'Neill has

:21:53. > :21:54.done a fantastic job. Here he is. How disappointed to lose the game

:21:55. > :22:00.and exit the tournament? Devastating. To go out in the nature

:22:01. > :22:03.we did, I thought we were the better team on the day. To lose how we did,

:22:04. > :22:08.the nature of the goal. Very disappointing. We gave everything.

:22:09. > :22:12.Couldn't ask any more from the players over the whole tournament.

:22:13. > :22:16.Disappointing. What would you say to Gareth McAuley? It was one of those

:22:17. > :22:19.balls he has to make a decision across the box whether to touch it

:22:20. > :22:22.or not much he opted to touch it. There is always a risk. Very

:22:23. > :22:25.difficult to him assess the situation whether there is anyone

:22:26. > :22:29.behind him or not much I haven't seen a replay of the goal yet.

:22:30. > :22:35.Gareth has been magnificent, not just in this tournament, since I've

:22:36. > :22:39.been a manager. Shame for him as it's been a great tournament.

:22:40. > :22:43.Michael O'Neill? Brilliant. So well-organised. Not conceded more

:22:44. > :22:46.than one goal in 14 games. It's a shame it's the end of the journey

:22:47. > :22:50.for them they should be very, very proud of where they have gone to.

:22:51. > :22:54.Second time they have reached the quarter-final in a major tournament,

:22:55. > :23:01.same in 1958 the last time they were in someone. Quite something? It's

:23:02. > :23:08.been a long time. We needed this. John takes credit. It goes beyond

:23:09. > :23:15.Gary Speed. He takes credit. John said we were stumbling from group to

:23:16. > :23:20.r group. They have come tluth through together it happened.

:23:21. > :23:27.Hungary or Belgium. Belgium will be favourites. Had them in the Group,

:23:28. > :23:31.won one, lost one? We can beat them. If they get it together Belgium,

:23:32. > :23:36.they can beat anyone. They can't get it together. With that superstar on

:23:37. > :23:43.the team they have a chance. Neil? I don't care! It's his birthday as

:23:44. > :23:46.well. If you are going to lose to any country I'm glad it was Wales. I

:23:47. > :23:50.hope they have a successful tournament. Great bunch of lads,

:23:51. > :23:54.great manager, great nation. Many happy returns. Thank you very much.

:23:55. > :23:58.Sorry it didn't turn out for you. Glad it did for you. Thank you to

:23:59. > :23:59.all three of us. That is it from us. Northern Ireland leave, Wales

:24:00. > :24:12.remain. Goodbye. COMMENTATOR: Good evening everyone

:24:13. > :24:15.from Parc des Princes. It's time to discover which will be the first

:24:16. > :24:26.Home Nation to fly their flag into the last eight. Opportunity here for

:24:27. > :24:27.Dallas. Sam Vokes who jumps. Offside, Ramsey, as he turns the

:24:28. > :24:47.ball in. In games like this, it's one ball

:24:48. > :24:56.and magic from a special player. Ramsey. Great ball. It's wide from

:24:57. > :25:02.Vokes. Bale is ready to hit. Bale brings the safe save from McGovern.

:25:03. > :25:09.We've got a game on now! Bale with another. It's turned into his own

:25:10. > :25:11.net. How unfortunate Gareth McAuley. It's another Wales win. On they go

:25:12. > :25:13.to the quarter-final.