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Agence France-Presse

Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern spent last season toiling for Scottish strugglers Hamilton Academical, but his brilliant display against Germany at Euro 2016 made him the toast of Paris.
The 31-year-old pulled off save after save on Tuesday to frustrate the world champions, and while Mario Gomez found a way past him in the 30th minute, it was only thanks to McGovern’s electric reflexes that the score remained 1-0 in favour of Germany.
Captivating the 46,000-capacity Parc des Princes, and reaching the last 16 in the tournament, was a world away from his experiences with Hamilton, whose average home gate last season was 3,027.
But Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill said that his role in their relegation battle had been ideal preparation.
“Playing for Hamilton Academical, he makes a lot of saves every week,” said O’Neill.
“Coming into this game, he was well prepared. He’s an exceptional goalkeeper.

“The type of saves he made tonight showed that – not only his bravery, but his speed in closing people down and how he comes off his line. He didn’t put a foot wrong all night.
“The players gave him a round of applause when he came in the dressing room. When that happens, you don’t really need the manager to say any more to be honest.
“It was a phenomenal performance and up there probably with the great goalkeeper performance we’ve had in the past from the likes of Pat Jennings, Tommy Wright and Maik Taylor.
“I’m delighted for Michael because he’s waited a long time to play at club level and international level and he’s certainly taken the opportunity.”

McGovern has learnt the value of patience in his career, having spent seven years at formative club Celtic without making a first team appearance.
He had to wait five years to be awarded his second Northern Ireland cap – between 2010 and 2015 – and it was not until last year that he supplanted former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll as his country’s number one.
‘I could have been top scorer in one game’, says Mueller as he bemoans Germany’s missed chances against Northern Ireland
McGovern’s show-stealing performance against Germany, whose manager, Joachim Loew, praised his “great reflexes”, came at a time when his club career is in suspended animation.
His contract with Hamilton is due to expire next week and O’Neill said that he was likely to attract interest from teams on both sides of the border.
“I believe there’s a number of clubs in Scotland that have interest in him,” said O’Neill.
“I’d be surprised if there’s not clubs in England that would be interested in Michael.”

McGovern has never conceded more than one goal in his 14 international appearances and Hamilton manager Martin Canning, whose side finished one place above the Scottish top-flight’s relegation play-off berth, has admitted that he faces a struggle to convince his captain to stay.
“If he moves on, I’ll be the first to shake his hand and thank him for everything he’s done for the club,” Canning said in April.
“Guys like Michael deserve to go and test themselves and play at the highest level they can.”
Northern Ireland stun Ukraine 2-0 for first ever Euros win
In the short term, McGovern and his Northern Irish team mates must wait until the end of the group phase to discover whether they will face hosts France or neighbours Wales in the next round.
Reflecting on Tuesday’s game, McGovern said: “I was busy, but it was mentally very hard.
“We knew every goal was crucial so wanted to keep it at one and maybe nick a goal of our own.
“Germany had a slow start, but they were excellent today. We could not get out. I’ve never had such a busy night and I’ve never played against such quality opposition.”
As new horizons approach with both club and country, it is something he may have to get used to.


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2016 Uefa European Championship (Euro 2016)

Miraculous Michael McGovern earns Northern Ireland adulation after Euro 2016 heroics against Germany

Goalkeeper Michael McGovern of Northern Ireland blocks a shot by Thomas Mueller of Germany. Photo: EPA

Germany's Thomas Mueller, center left, collides with Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Northern Ireland and Germany at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, June 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Germany's coach Joachim Loew (R) and Northern Ireland's coach Michael O'Neill hug after the Euro 2016 group C football match between Northern Ireland and Germany at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on June 21, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN

Germany's forward Mario Gomez (R) and Northern Ireland's defender Craig Cathcart vie for the ball during the Euro 2016 group C football match between Northern Ireland and Germany at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on June 21, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN

Northern Ireland stun Ukraine 2-0 for first ever Euros win

Gareth McAuley of Northern Ireland celebrates after scoring EPA / CJ GUNTHER EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Football Soccer - Ukraine v Northern Ireland - EURO 2016 - Group C - Stade de Lyon, Lyon, France - 16/6/16 Northern Ireland's Niall McGinn celebrates after scoring their second goal REUTERS/Max Rossi Livepic

epa05370195 Gareth McAuley (L) of Northern Ireland beats Yevhen Khacheridi of Ukraine to the header to score the 1-0 during the UEFA EURO 2016 group C preliminary round match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland at Stade de Lyon in Lyon, France, 16 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/CJ GUNTHER EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Football Soccer - Ukraine v Northern Ireland - EURO 2016 - Group C - Stade de Lyon, Lyon, France - 16/6/16 Northern Ireland head coach Michael O'Neill celebrates after Northern Ireland's Niall McGinn scores their second goal REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff Livepic

Ukraine's Yevhen Khacheridi leaves the pitch after play was briefly suspended in the 58th minute of the match because of hail, during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland at the Grand Stade in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, France, Thursday, June 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Euro 2016 Day 7: Northern Ireland make history; Germans frustrated; agony for Wales

Northern Ireland players celebrate AFP

Poland's forward Arkadiusz Milik (Below) challenges the Germany goal line during the Euro 2016 group C football match between Germany and Poland at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis near Paris on June 16, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO LEONG

Northern Ireland's Niall Mcginn, left, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland at the Grand Stade in Decines-­Charpieu, near Lyon, France, Thursday, June 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

England's Daniel Sturridge, center, is mobbed by his teammates after scoring his side’s second goal during the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Wales at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, France, Thursday, June 16, 2016. Surrounding him are Wayne Rooney, top, Dele Alli (20), Marcus Rashford, bottom left, and Adam Lallana, second from right. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Euro 2016: Poland’s Milik ends Northern Ireland resistance

Poland's players celebrate their goal .Photo: AFP

Poland's forward Arkadiusz Milik (C, back) shoots to score during the Euro 2016 group C football match between Poland and Northern Ireland at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 12, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Attila KISBENEDEK

Poland supporters cheer their team on during the Euro 2016 group C football match between Poland and Northern Ireland at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 12, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Valery HACHE

Northern Ireland reach Euro 2016 finals on a dramatic night of qualifiers

Northern Ireland skipper Steven Davis scored twice to secure his country's passage to France next year. Photo: Reuters

Northern Irish supporters celebrated long into the night. Photo: Reuters

Joao Moutinho's strike for Portugal against Denmark ensured his country's passage. Photo: Xinhua

Northern Ireland soccer fan falls to his death in Euro 2016 tragedy

A Northern Ireland supporter holds a flag at the Euro 2016 Fanzone in Nice, southeastern France. Photo: AFP

Northern Ireland's defender Gareth McAuley (L) vies with Poland's midfielder Bartosz Kapustka during the Euro 2016 group C football match between Poland and Northern Ireland at the Stade de Nice in Nice on June 12, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / ATTILA KISBENEDEK

Sport

Football

The goalkeeper produced a string of superb saves at the Parc des Princes as Michael O’Neill’s side secured a place in the last 16 despite losing 1-0 to the world champions
