Wales to play Northern Ireland in last 16 of Euro 2016

By Allan Valente

Image: Wales will play Northern Ireland in the last 16 of Euro 2016

Wales will play Northern Ireland in the last 16 of Euro 2016.

Chris Coleman's side won Group B with a 3-0 victory over Russia on Monday but had to wait until the final round of group matches finished on Wednesday to find out who their next opponents were.

Northern Ireland qualified as one of the best third-placed sides after a 1-0 defeat to Germany on Tuesday.

Image: Northern Ireland will meet Wales in Paris on Saturday

Ireland's 1-0 win over Italy secured a third-placed finish in Group E and a clash with France, with second-placed Belgium facing Hungary in the next round after they overcame Sweden 1-0

Wales and Northern Ireland will now meet at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday evening at 5pm.

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It had looked for a long while on Wednesday night that Wales would play Turkey and Northern Ireland would meet France in the last 16.

Image: Robbie Brady's winner for the Republic of Ireland against Italy changed the dynamic of the last 16 ties

However, Robbie Brady's late winner for Ireland in Lille changed the dynamics of the knockout ties and eliminated Turkey.

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Wales boss Chris Coleman said he expected a tough test in Paris on Saturday and Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill revealed his side were full of confidence.

"It is going to be a fantastic game," O'Neill said.

Image: Michael O'Neill is confident Northern Ireland can beat Wales

"We will be heading back to the Parc des Princes which, as we know from Tuesday night, is a brilliant stadium. We will benefit from the familiarity of having been there already, of having done the journey and of having played on the pitch.

"The results tonight put us in what is arguably the more favourable side of the draw, so we are pleased about that.

"We are in no doubt that it is going to be a tough game against Wales but we will go into the match believing that we can win and that we can progress."

Euro 2016, round of 16, full draw:

Top half

Switzerland v Poland

Croatia v Portugal

Wales v Northern Ireland

Hungary v Belgium

Bottom half

Germany v Slovakia

Italy v Spain

France v Republic of Ireland

England v Iceland

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