Summary

  • Northern Ireland's best ever start

  • Poland 2-2 Scotland

  • Germany 1-1 Republic of Ireland

  • John O'Shea levels in injury-time

  1. Goodbyepublished at 22:30 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    So what a night of international football it has been. It began with England's Under-21s qualifying for Euro 2015, before the senior teams took centre stage.

    Northern IrelandImage source, AFP

    And they didn't disappoint. Northern Ireland won for the third time in three Euro qualifiers with a 2-0 victory in Greece, Scotland battled to a fine 2-2 draw in Poland and John O'Shea grabbed an injury-time equaliser for Republic of Ireland in a 1-1 draw against world champions Germany.

    IrelandImage source, EPA

    Thank you for joining us and for your comments. We will see you again soon.

  2. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 22:26 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Kenneth Martin: , externalNaismith brings an energy and intelligence to the forward play even when he's not at best.

  3. Postpublished at 22:26 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Greece

    Northern Ireland had less than a quarter of possession against Greece. This is a pretty amazing stat, considering Northern Ireland had four shots on target compared to one from the hosts on their way to a 2-0 victory.

  4. Postpublished at 22:23 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Poland v Scotland

    Two goals from three shots on target for Scotland. Some wild shooting from Poland though with three quarters of attempts off target.

  5. Text us on 80295published at 22:19 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Dean, Oban Jambo: Great point tonight, for an experience player. Hutton made two massive mistakes. Still confident we will qualify. Good to see the national side doing well again.

    Scotland applaudImage source, AP

    Anon: Great result for Scots, good point away from home, Germany will beat Ireland and Poland the next time they play them and Ireland have to play Poland twice so they will drop points: go Scotland.

    Ronnie in Kirkcaldy: There's no doubt Strachan is doing good stuff but I wish he would play Jordan Rhodes instead of Steven Fletcher. Fletcher is a good footballer but he hardly ever scores whereas Rhodes is a goal machine and he can play too. Oh and he must find an alternative to Hutton, who is great going forward but cost us two goals with poor defending.

  6. Postpublished at 22:18 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Republic of Ireland only had one shot on target. It didn't even arrive until the 94th minute. But when it did, wow, what an impact.

    Germany v Republic of Ireland

    John O'Shea's 94th minute equaliser denied Germany, who had 22 attempts on goal, with eight of them on target.

  7. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 22:11 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Rian Hoskins:, external Well done to Ireland for coming back. Germany aren't in crisis but they may be lacking a bit of leadership with Philipp Lahm not there.

  8. Text us on 81111published at 22:04 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    GreeceImage source, Getty Images

    Dan in Pinner: Northern Ireland to do a Greece 2004?

    Unfancied Greece won Euro 2004. The way they played tonight, it will be a long time before they qualify again, never mind winning the competition.

  9. Group E tablepublished at 22:04 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    England were not in action today, but there was still a match in Group E with Switzerland winning 4-0 against San Marino. This is how they stand in that group after three matches.

    Group E table
  10. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Paul Mulligan:, external Incredible results for NI and ROI tonight. The entire island of Ireland could be heading to France!

  11. Manager reactionpublished at 22:00 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill on Sky Sports: "I'm delighted. It's a nice thing to have as statistics [won the first three qualifiers for the first time]. The workrate of the team and belief - I thought tonight every player was magnificent.

    "[Kyle] Lafferty has been fantastic in the three qualifiers. His physical size, technique and pace - when he puts that together and he's playing against international defenders, they can't handle him."

  12. Elsewhere in Europepublished at 21:59 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    The late drama was not just restricted to Germany. A last-minute Cristiano Ronaldo strike in Demark gave Portugal their first Euro 2016 qualifying win.

    Cristiano RonaldoImage source, EPA

    Ronaldo beat Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to a cross before flicking the ball into the net to secure the three points which move Portugal up to third in Group I. The other game in the group, between Serbia and Albania, was abandoned in the first half following a disturbance on the pitch.

    Elsewhere, Switzerland eased to a 4-0 win at San Marino for their first points in Group E. They are six points behind leaders England.

    Gibraltar lost 3-0 at home to Georgia in Group D, Romania beat Finland 2-0 and Hungary edged Faroe Islands 1-0.

  13. Postpublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis on Sky Sports: "We kept them at bay really well. Big Kyle [Lafferty] up front was the standout player - he took the second goal really well.

    "The early goal settled the nerves. It's been an unbelievable start to the campaign. It's hard to put your finger on it. In the last campaign there were errors in games - at critical times we were getting punished."

  14. Postpublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Gordon StrachanImage source, AP

    Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, on Sky Sports: "It was a fantastic game and a fantastic atmosphere. We're pleased with a lot of things and disappointed too. We played attacking players and feel that's a strong part of our team; I believe in them.

    "The surface was heavy and they did well, considering. They stuck at it. It's the hardest group: we've had four points from two games and two good performances away from home and a terrific one at home to Georgia."

  15. Group F tablepublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    So who's happier tonight? Northern Ireland fans or Republic of Ireland supporters? I bet it is a close-run thing. Look at this table Northern Ireland fans, take pictures, drink it in, enjoy every moment.

    Group F table

    Northern Ireland, who have never qualified for the finals tournament of a European Championship, are top with maximum points from three games. It is the first time they have ever won their first three games in a qualifying campaign.

    Greece are meant to be the best team in the group. At the moment they are only one point above the Faroe Islands.

  16. Postpublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    BBC Sportsound pundit Willie Miller

    "I thought it was a wonderful game tonight and football was the winner. Two teams who were outstanding at different times and both sets of fans must've been entertained. A draw was a fair result."

  17. Text us on 81111published at 21:50 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Vince in London: Just like Robbie Keane did to Germany 12 years ago...

  18. Postpublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Republic of Ireland goalscorer John O'Shea on Sky Sports: "It was a very special moment - we have a fantastic spirit, we didn't want to come off having lost with people thinking we just did OK.

    John O'SheaImage source, EPA

    "At half-time the manager said if we do go behind we will get the chances. When Wes Hoolahan came on we played some fantastic passes.

    "What a special night thankfully I was able to play my part at the end."

  19. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 14 October 2014

    Adrian Stanley: , externalJOHN O SHEA!!!!!!!!!! We belittled that Waterford man for so long; Irish legendary status confirmed!

    Let's hear from the man himself then.