Northern Ireland and their former Huddersfield Town midfielder Oliver Norwood will be out to book a place in the last 16 of the European Championships when they face Germany in Paris on Tuesday.
Thursday’s 2-0 win over Ukraine, when Reading’s Norwood claimed the assist for Gareth McAuley’s headed opener, was the country’s first at a major finals for 34 years.
Michael O’Neill’s side, beaten 2-0 by Poland in their Euro 2016 opener, will finish at least third in Group C, and that on its own might be enough to progress.
Manchester United product Norwood, who made 90 Town appearances before a £1.2m transfer to Reading in August 2014, has started both Northern Ireland games in France.
He has 35 caps after switching allegiance following England appearances at youth level (he was born in Burnley but has Northern Irish family heritage).
Norwood, who has a year remaining on his Reading contract, has been linled with Bournemouth, Hull City and Celtic this summer.
It’s believed Town have a sell-on clause on a player who cost them £400,000 from Old Trafford in 2012.
West Bromwich Albion defender McAuley hailed a performance against Ukraine he felt was befitting of their underdog status.
McAuley headed home his eighth international goal early in the second half in Lyon before substitute Niall McGinn added a second in time added on.
“I’m so proud of the players and coaching staff,” he said.
“People maybe didn’t give us a chance and said we wouldn’t get a point, so it’s always nice to turn the screw and prove a few people wrong.
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“To me, that’s what Northern Ireland is about.
“It’s about being the underdog, scrapping and fighting. The most pleasing thing is that was a Northern Ireland performance out there.”
