Summary

  • NI beaten in first game of Euro 2016

  • Milik's low drive earns victory for Poland

  • Germany v Ukraine later in Group C

  • Croatia beat Turkey 1-0 in Group D

  1. Postpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Gerry Taggart
    Former Northern Ireland captain in Nice

    "Not conceding is the only positive you can take. Northern Ireland have defended stoutly and Poland have had one opportunity and squandered it. 

    "I would like to see Northern Ireland sort the midfield out and stop Poland getting in."

  2. HALF-TIMEpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    That's it. 45 minutes done.

    More chances for Poland so far, with Arkadiusz Milik and Bartosz Kapustka having the best opportunities. 

    Michael McGovern made a terrific stop from Bartosz Kaputska's effortImage source, Reuters
  3. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Conor McLaughlin is given a talking to by the ref after a little collision with Artur Jedrzejczyk. 

    "No more," says Romanian Hategan. I wouldn't mess with him.

    Lukasz Piszczek, the Polish right-back who's been very lively, has a go at goal with a looping effort but Michael McGovern catches it.   

  4. Postpublished at 42 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Jakub Blaszczykowski goes down like a sack of spuds, with Jonny Evans lingering behind. Once again, the referee waves on. He's not having it. 

  5. Living dangerouslypublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland are hanging on. Here's that effort from Arkadiusz Milik a few minutes ago...

  6. Postpublished at 40 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Robert Lewandowski out-foxes Gareth McAuley at the corner flag. The Bayern Munich forward nutmegs his opponent and then earns a corner. Cheeky.

    The first attempt comes across and is cleared by Kyle Lafferty. Yes, the NI striker is back defending.

    Another corner comes in and Bartosz Kapustka fires a stinging effort which is saved superbly by Michael McGovern. 

    A corner from the opposite side then causes choas in the box. Green shirts are diving all over the place. It is cleared eventually. Manic defending. 

    Poland's Bartosz Kapustka lashes a volley at goalImage source, Reuters
  7. Postpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    This looks like one cracking party in Belfast...

    Northern Ireland fan zone at Titanic BelfastImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland fan zone at Titanic Belfast

  8. Postpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Gerry Taggart
    Former Northern Ireland captain in Nice

    "Northern Ireland have coped with the pressure pretty well but I would like to see us get on the ball.

    "There is no quality going into Kyle Lafferty."

    Kyle Lafferty has had no service so farImage source, EPA
  9. Postpublished at 34 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Bartosz Kapustka handles the ball and Northern Ireland earn a free-kick just inside the Poland half. 

    A long ball in from Steven Davis is picked up by Paddy McNair, before Chris Baird tries to send a cross in from about 40 yards out. It loops into the box but is soon cleared. 

  10. CLOSE!published at 32 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Arkadiusz Milik blazes over the target from just seven yardsImage source, Reuters

    Bartosz Kapustka surges forward and feeds Arkadiusz Milik.

    He waits patiently, controls the ball in the box and tries to stick it in the top of the net but it goes over!

    Probably Poland's best chance so far.

  11. Under the coshpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    To say Northern Ireland have been under the cosh would be an understatement but they are standing firm. The average position of eight Poland players has been in the Northern Ireland half...

    Poland v Northern IrelandImage source, .
  12. Postpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Gerry Armstrong
    Former Northern Ireland striker in Nice

    "The longer it stays 0-0 the better for Northern Ireland. We are starting to see a little bit of frustration from the Poland side. Robert Lewandowski goes down a second time but the referee doesn't see anything untoward."

    Robert Lewandowski goes down for PolandImage source, EPA
  13. Postpublished at 29 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Poland striker Robert Lewandowski has gone down twice now, claiming he's been caught by Northern Ireland players, but referee Ovidiu Hategan (great name) hasn't given him anything so far.

    Arkadiusz Milik goes for goal with a lofted strike but it's gathered by goalkeeper Michael McGovern.   

  14. Postpublished at 27 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Jonny Evans makes another important body block in the box for Northern Ireland. 

    Poland are pushed back into their own half for once, after Bartosz Kapustka is ruled offside.

    Chris Baird floats a long ball into the box, with the hope of reaching Kyle Lafferty, but Wojciech Szczesny rises high and catches it before the Northern Ireland striker can connect. 

    Kyle Lafferty challenges Polish keeper Wojciech SzczesnyImage source, Reuters
  15. Postpublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Gerry Taggart
    Former Northern Ireland captain in Nice

    "The Northern Ireland lads are getting physical with the Polish attackers and that is what you want to see. 

    "Make sure they don't get a free header and if they do get a header make sure to put them off."

    Oliver Norwood seeks to shut down Poland's Grzegorz KrychowiakImage source, Reuters
  16. Postpublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Gerry Armstrong
    Former Northern Ireland striker in Nice

    "Jonny Evans has come in and produced a great challenge on Jakub Błaszczykowski and it's definitely a goal kick but a corner is given.

    "Northern Ireland are starting to settle down and pass the ball a bit better. It's also more encouraging going forward."

  17. Postpublished at 23 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Jakub Blaszczykowski has another corner. He takes his time, as the penalty area is more congested than the M6 on a Friday.

    Lukasz Piszczek has a go at goal but it's blocked and then Jonny Evans makes a heavy but well-timed tackle on Blaszczykowski, and another corner is given. 

    Should it have been a goal kick? The NI fans certainly think so. 

    Northern Irish captain Jonny Evans goes in strongly on Jakub BlaszczykowskiImage source, Reut
  18. Postpublished at 20 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    Jakub Blaszczykowski whips in a corner for Poland but it fails to reach any of their big lads in the box.

    Striker Robert Lewandowski gains possession and tries to twist and turn with some pzazz towards goal but the opportunity fizzles out. 

    Robert Lewandowski fails to get it under control in the boxImage source, PA
  19. Postpublished at 18 mins

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    A decent spell of possession from Northern Ireland.

    Shane Ferguson sprints up the wing and his only option is to drive the ball into the box and hope for the best, as he's being chased down by the Poland defence.

    His cross is easily collected by the keeper. 

    Polish keeper Wojciech Sczescny gathers the crossImage source, Reuters
  20. Camped in NI's halfpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Poland 0-0 Northern Ireland

    How do you quantify one-way traffic in Opta graphics, you may (never) ask?

    Like this, perhaps?

    Poland v Northern IrelandImage source, Opta