Germany secured a 1-0 win over Norther Ireland in their final group stage match of the UEFA Euro 2016. The win helps Joachim Low’s side to progress to the knockouts as the top-placed side of their group, where they will be facing the third best-placed side of Group A or B – Albania or Slovakia.
Northern Ireland also finished as the third best-placed team in group C and should they make the cut, they will play either Wales or France in the pre-quarters.
The football game was dominated by Die Mannschaft, who registered 14 shots and managed to retain an astonishing 79 percent possession. Mario Gomez, who had started in place of Julian Draxler, scored his first competitive goal for Germany in over four years to help his side claim the win.
Here is how the players fared during the game:
Northern Ireland
Michael McGovern – 8.5/10
McGovern put in a heroic display between the sticks making a string of impressive saves, including some from point-blank range, to keep his side in the reckoning for a place in the knockout stage of the tournament. Denied the attacking quartet of Gomez, Muller, Ozil and Gotze on numerous occasions.
Aaron Hughes – 6/10
He struggled against the pace of Gotze and Hector, but gave his absolute best to try and keep the Germans at bay.
Gareth McAuley – 6,5/10
The West Bromwich Albion man made some vital blocks to deny Low’s side, but found it difficult to keep up with Gomez and was at fault for the opening goal.
Craig Cathcart – 6/10
Cathcart improved as the game progressed, but he was guilty of giving away possession for Germany’s opener.
Jonny Evans – 6.5/10
The former Manchester United man was good in the air, but struggled to deal with the attacking threat of Kimmich, who overlapped Muller to cause problems for Michael O’Neill’s side on more occasions than one.
Jamie Ward – 6.5/10
Ward asked some questions of the German defence with his direct running and speed. He was also his side’s primary attacking threat, but was let down by his crossing.
Corry Evans – 5.5/10
Evans struggled to make his presence felt to the German midfield, but was at hand to make some crucial interceptions.
Oliver Norwood – 6/10
Norwood tried to orchestrate attacks while shielding the back four. Didn’t get enough opportunities to threaten Low’s side with his set-piece delivery apart from a few corners, one of which was headed over by Jonny Evans.
Steven Davis – 6/10
The Northern Ireland captain led his side’s defiance from the front as he organized the midfield to suffocate the Germans for space, which could have proved detrimental to their goal difference. He also tried to link up with Washington to create problems for the opposition.
Stuart Dallas – 5/10
He was pinned back for most parts of the game as he provided support for Evans to deal with the threat of Muller and Kimmich, but failed to make an impact in the attacking third.
Conor Washington – 4/10
Washington didn’t have a telling impact on the game as he cut a forlorn figure in attack bereft of any service whatsoever. Was left chasing lost causes for most parts of the game.
Substitutes
Kyle Lafferty – N/A
Lafferty came on to replace Washington in the 59th minute and helped his team out defensively.
Josh Magennis – N/A
He replaced Ward in the 70th minute as Northern Ireland looked to steal a point from Germany, but failed to have a telling impact.
Niall McGinn – N/A
He came on as a substitute for Corry Evans in the 84th minute and didn’t have enough time to make a significant impact.
Germany
Manuel Neuer – 6/10
The Bayern Munich man had a relatively quiet outing and was forced to make a solitary save. Finished the group stage with three consecutive clean sheets.
Jonas Hector – 6.5/10
The 26-year-old was a constant threat down the left flank and provided some excellent crosses for Gomez and Ozil.
Mats Hummels – 6.5/10
The 27-year-old has forged a formidable partnership alongside Boateng at the heart of Germany’s defence and was at hand to deny the opposition if and when they attacked.
Jérôme Boateng – 7/10
The former Manchester City defender was a rock at the back and thwarted anything that Northern Ireland had to offer in terms of attack. The defender was calm and composed on the ball and threaded some teasing balls forward.
Joshua Kimmich – 7/10
He was a constant threat on the overlap and linked up well with Muller to make things worse for Northern Ireland’s defence.
Toni Kroos – 6/10
The Real Madrid man was the deepest of all midfielders as he orchestrated the show sitting in front of the central defenders. He didn’t have as much impact offensively as he is used to, but switched play from one flank to the other.
Sami Khedira – 6/10
Khedira tried his luck with a couple of long-range drives, but McGovern was equal to whatever the Juventus midfielder offered. He was replaced by Schweinsteiger in the 69th minute.
Thomas Müller – 7/10
After a dismal showing in the opening two games, the 26-year-old finally showed glimpses of his genius as he set up Gomez for the opener while also crashing two efforts against the woodwork. His goalless run at the Euros continues.
Mesut Özil – 8/10
The Arsenal playmaker thrived in the number 10 role and threaded some excellent balls for the front three. He came close to getting on the scoresheet and also set up Muller early on. The 27-year-old was instrumental in the build-up to Germany’s opener.
Mario Götze – 6/10
His poor run of form at the Euro 2016 continues, but the Bayern Munich forward forced McGovern into making two good saves. He also set up Muller, whose shot crashed against the post. He was replaced by Schurrle in the 55th minute.
Mario Gomez – 7/10
The 30-year-old was afforded his first start of the tournament and he made the most of his opportunity, finding the back of the net after being set up by Muller. The Fiorentina man also forced the Northern Ireland goalkeeper into making a couple of decent saves.
Substitutes
André Schürrle – 5.5/10
He came on to replace Gotze in the 55th minute but apart from a few good crosses didn’t have much impact on the game.
Bastian Schweinsteiger – N/A
The Manchester United man replaced Khedira in the 69th minute and played a few diagonal balls for the forwards.
Benedikt Höwedes – N/A
He came on as a substitute for Boateng in the 76th minute but didn’t have a telling impact on the game.
