Northern Ireland on Thursday reached their first major tournament in 30 years and their neighbors south of the border beat world champions Germany to take a big step toward joining them at Euro 2016 in a memorable night for Irish soccer.
Northern Ireland have never been to a European Championship in more than 50 years, but the Group F pace-setters made sure of their place in France next year in emphatic style with a deserved 3-1 home victory over Greece at a raucous Windsor Park.
The atmosphere was just as wild in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium as Ireland secured at least a playoff spot with a shock 1-0 win, raising the prospect that both teams — split by a 500km winding border and a complex history — could qualify for the same tournament for the first time.
Photo: Reuters
“Anyone for France next year?” Northern Ireland’s four-time golf major winner Rory McIlory — who sat next to world boxing champion Carl Frampton at Windsor Park — tweeted after the game.
“Unbelievable result for the Republic too! Great night for the island of Ireland, north and south. Hopefully see both teams in France next year,” said McIlroy, who is to represent Ireland at next year’s Olympic Games after agonizing over whether or not to opt for Britain, which controls Northern Ireland.
Northern Irish ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness also took to Twitter to congratulate the team, who previously qualified for a major tournament at the 1986 World Cup.
They reached the latter stages four years earlier, when they were captained by current Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, and memorably beat hosts Spain.
Ireland, whose prime minister, Enda Kenny, described the Group D result as “stunning,” only qualified for a major tournament for the first time in 1988 and have reached four more since, most recently the 2012 European Championship.
Ireland can seal automatic qualification with a victory in Poland tomorrow — the same day Ireland’s rugby players, who unlike in soccer play as part of a unified team, face France in the Rugby World Cup.
A similar approach for soccer could just produce an unbeatable team, said Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, whose party has members of parliament on both sides of the border and wants a united Ireland.
“The Island of Ireland soccer teams won tonight. Well done to both teams. Time for one united team. A world beater!” Adams said on Twitter.
Ireland substitute Shane Long ran onto a kick out over the German defense from goalkeeper Darren Randolph and blasted past Manuel Neuer to the top corner to ensure Group D will be decided on the final day.
Germany missed a host of chances through Jerome Boateng, Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Ozil, with Ireland forced to chase the game for long periods before Long struck in the 70th minute.
Thomas Mueller missed the chance to equalize eight minutes later — a draw would have been enough for Germany — when he fired wide with the goal at his mercy.
“It’s bitter for me and worse for the team,” Mueller said.
Germany, Portugal and Ireland are vying for the top two spots to ensure direct qualification. Scotland’s hopes were ended when Robert Lewandowski salvaged a 2-2 draw for Poland in Glasgow.
In Belfast, Steven Davis scored twice for Northern Ireland.
“It’s a dream come true. We really wanted to get it done tonight and there is no better place than to do it in front of your home fans,” Davis said. “It’s a huge achievement for the squad and the entire nation.
The win moved Northern Ireland on to 20 points, three ahead of second-placed Romania following their 1-1 draw against Finland in Bucharest.
Joao Moutinho struck for Portugal to beat Denmark 1-0 and secure their place by winning Group I.
Earlier, Georgia defeated Gibraltar 4-0 in Tbilisi.
Portugal advanced after beating Denmark 1-0, while Albania could still make it, despite a tense, but violence-free, 2-0 defeat against Serbia.
The match in Elbasan, Albania, was watched over by more than 2,000 police with extensive security checks and snipers on rooftops. A match last year between the two was interrupted by violence after a drone carrying a nationalist Albanian banner hovered over the pitch.
Thursday’s drama came on the pitch as Serbia captured a late win with injury time goals from Aleksandar Kolarov and Adem Ljajic.
Hungary came from behind to beat the Faroe Islands 2-1 in Budapest courtesy of two second-half goals from substitute Daniel Bode.
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