Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill hailed his players' "pure heart" after their brilliant, historic victory over Ukraine, a win that has not just kept the Irish in Euro 2016, but which gives them a chance of making it to the next phase.
“It was probably the proudest I’ve felt in the dug-out and probably in my entire football career,” O’Neill said.
“When you get a performance of passion, commitment and pure heart like that there is nothing more you can ask for as a manager.
“It was a fantastic performance in a magnificent stadium. I said last night to the players that if you don’t look forward to a game like this then you’re in the wrong industry. They took that on board.
“We needed that level of intensity and energy and we’re alive and kicking in the tournament now.”
What the Irish players also took on board was O’Neill’s change of personnel and formation following the disappointing display in Nice against Poland last Sunday. O’Neill changed half his outfield players and returned to the 4-5-1 formation that served Northern Ireland so well in qualification.
“It’s never easy,” O’Neill added, “we did so much work leading into the first game and it was of a really high quality. But whether it was a combination of Poland being very good or us being below par, you do question yourself a little bit.
“Having watched it back and from the different camera angles Uefa make available to us, I felt we needed to get more running power into our team. We’d always planned to play four at the back because of Ukraine’s threat from the wide areas, we always felt more suited to 4-5-1.
“The two boys at full back, how they dealt with the two boys in the wide areas was absolutely gigantic.”
Gareth McAuley, scorer of the opening goal and superb in defence throughout the game, was awarded man of the match from Uefa, represented by Youri Djorkaeff.
“It’s all about the lads around me,” McAuley said, deflecting the personal praise, adding of his soaring header: “It will be a few years down the line when I’m finished up and looking back on it that it’ll feel extra special.
“Lots of people when the draw was made didn’t give us a chance to get a point, but that’s what Northern Ireland are about, proving people wrong. We’ve got something to play for in Paris against Germany and that’s the best thing about tonight.
“We will be written off again but we will have a plan and hopefully get something from it. We’ve something in the bag. Hopefully we can get into the last 16.”
Northern Ireland’s other scorer Niall McGinn said: “I think that’s going to be the best moment of my life. I scored on the European stage, millions watching around the world. I don’t think anything can top that.”
On his substitute’s role, McGinn add: “If it keeps working, why not? I’ll be over the moon with it.
“For me personally, I was just delighted to get on the pitch and play some minutes. I was disappointed not to get on against Poland but I’ve worked hard behind the scenes and I’ve kept my head right.”
Steven Davis, outstanding as captain again, said: "That's right up there with anything we've done since I've been in the squad. It's probably the most complete performance in my time in a Northern Ireland shirt and to do it on this stage is incredible."
