Northern Ireland will be hoping to put up a performance that would earn a positive result against world champions Germany. Michael O'Neill's men were back to their resolute and dogged best in their crucial 2-0 win over Ukraine, a victory that has put them within a touching distance of the last 16.
Germany are yet to impress in France, albeit they are still to concede a goal. The mere fact that they can be usurped as group winners by neighbours Poland, who not only held them to a goalless draw last week but also beat them for the first ever time in qualifying, brings its own pressures; as does the potential of Northern Ireland finishing above them with a win.
TEAM NEWS
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill must decide whether to make changes to the side that beat Ukraine.
If he reverts to a more defensive system then Conor McLaughlin and Paddy McNair may come back into the team, as could target man Kyle Lafferty.
Germany coach Joachim Low also has a dilemma over whether to persist with out-of-form Mario Gotze up front or instead play striker Mario Gomez.
Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil are one booking from a ban.
GROUP C PERMUTATIONS
A victory would make Northern Ireland mathematically sure of advancing. They would top the group if they win and Poland fail to record a victory.
They already have three points and cannot finish lower than third. A draw is likely to be enough to ensure progress to the last 16.
Even defeat may see Northern Ireland advance as one of the best third-place sides, depending on what happens in other groups.
Germany already have four points - which is likely to be enough to take them through to the last 16. They will guarantee progression to the knock-out stage if they avoid defeat.
Euro 2016: Who will qualify for the last 16?
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Northern Ireland have won only twice in 14 meetings with Germany (D4, L8).
- Those two wins came in qualifying for the 1984 European Championship. That is the only time that a team has beaten Germany/West Germany both home and away in a qualifying campaign.
- Current Northern Ireland assistant boss Jimmy Nicholl played in both of those fixtures.
- Northern Ireland's 1-0 away win in November 1983 remains their last victory against Germany. Norman Whiteside scored the winning goal that day.
- This is their first meeting at a major tournament since the 1958 World Cup. They drew 2-2 in that encounter in Malmo as both teams progressed to the quarter-finals.
Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland have lost only one of their last 14 internationals (W7, D6).
- They have not conceded more than one goal in their last 15 internationals, since they lost 2-0 in qualifying to Romania in November 2014.
- Seven of Northern Ireland's last 10 goals in competitive games have come from set-pieces (four from corners, three from indirect free-kicks).
- Northern Ireland went from two shots (zero on target) in their Euro 2016 opener against Poland to 13 shots (seven on target) in their second outing against Ukraine.
Germany
- The last time Germany failed to make it out of the group stages of a major tournament was at Euro 2004. Since then, they've made the last four at every single major competition.
- Germany have won 12 of their last 15 games at major tournaments, drawing two and losing one - that was a 2-1 defeat to Italy in the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
- Thomas Muller hasn't scored or assisted a single goal in seven games at the Euros. He's had just one shot on target in 180 minutes so far at Euro 2016.
- Muller has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 13 World Cup games.
Possible line-ups
Northern Ireland: McGovern; Hughes, McAuley, Cathcart, J Evans; Ward, C Evans, Davis, Norwood, Dallas; Washington.
Germany: Neuer; Höwedes, Boateng, Hummels, Hector; Kroos, Khedira; Özil, Götze, Schürrle; Müller.
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