Friday 6 October 2017 00:02, UK
Michael O'Neill saluted a valiant second-half display as Northern Ireland prevented Germany from denting their World Cup play-off hopes too much.
The reigning world champions proved too tough an obstacle for Northern Ireland as they ran out 3-1 winners at Windsor Park to qualify for Russia 2018.
But an improved performance after the break, in which Joachim Low's men were contained, ensured Northern Ireland, who end their campaign in Norway on Sunday, remain in with a fighting chance of joining them at next summer's tournament.
"We were great in the second half, especially after being 2-0 down against that level of opposition," O'Neill told Sky Sports. "3-0 would have been harsh, we deserved the goal in the end, but it was very difficult.
"We lost a goal early to a phenomenal strike, and the game plan we had in mind went out of the window after a minute and 20 seconds.
"That knocked us back in the first 15-20 minutes and it took us a while to get going. We clawed our way back in and what we gave in the second half was fantastic.
"This was a bonus game for us and no matter what happens in our final two games we'll be second in the group. What matters is where we are in the group of second-place teams.
"At 2-0 it could have gone to four or five, so it was important to make sure our goal difference, which is in a healthy state, wasn't obliterated.
"I'm enormously proud of the second-half performance, we made sure our goal difference didn't deteriorate.
"We look forward to the Norway game where things will be a little clearer. If we need to get something in Norway, I'm sure we'll get it."
Northern Ireland were chasing shadows against Germany for most of the first half but a switch in formation at the break steadied things to an extent.
Asked how his side went about combating the dominant Germans, O'Neill added: "We got up to the ball a bit better.
"Possibly that was the shape of the team and if that is the case then that was my fault for starting the way we did.
"We thought playing with two up front would give us the chance to threaten a bit more, but Germany had so much control in the midfield, due to the likes of Toni Kroos, it was difficult to get pressure on the ball because their movement was so good.
"In the second half we stuck to it, went more man-to-man across the middle of the pitch and, as a result, we clawed our way back into the game."
Having created just one chance in the opening period, Northern Ireland stirred after the interval and created several openings, the most notable of which saw Conor Washington strike the woodwork.
It left O'Neill wondering what might have been as he added: "You're not going to get many chances against Germany.
"You need Germany to miss a few chances, which they did, and you need to take whatever opportunities you get.
"Conor's was the chance, he does well after Josh [Magennis] does great to create the chance. It's a good strike, he hits the bar, he probably thinks he should have scored from there.
"It certainly would have made a nice finish if we'd have got to 2-1, the crowd would have been lifted by it, unfortunately it wasn't the case."
In the end, Northern Ireland were left with too much to do having found themselves a goal down inside two minutes after Sebastian Rudy broke the deadlock with a sensational long-range drive.
"You admire the quality of the strike, but there is always something that can be done," O'Neill said.
"Perhaps we could have done better, but the quality of the strike was phenomenal."
