Euro 2016

[monks data]

European Championship | Round of 16

Jun 25, 2016 at 5pm UK

Wales
1-0
N. Ireland Northern Ireland

McAuley (75' og.)

FT(HT: 0-0)

Michael O'Neill 'devastated' by last-16 defeat to Wales

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 25 June 2016

Michael O'Neill praises his players' attitude in making it to the knockout stages of Euro 2016, but admits that he has been left 'devastated' by the narrow loss to Wales.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill has admitted that he has been left crushed by the manner of Saturday evening's Euro 2016 defeat to Wales.

The Green and White Army were on top for large parts of their last-16 tie in Paris, before one piece of Gareth Bale quality led to the crucial breakthrough moment of the cagey affair.

Bale's cross from the left was turned into his own net by Gareth McAuley, who had Hal Robson-Kanu breathing down his neck just a few yards out, meaning that Irish dreams came to an end at the first knockout-stage hurdle.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, O'Neill said: "It's devastating. We were the better team on the day. I couldn't ask anything more of the players throughout the tournament.

"Gareth McAuley knows he has to make one of those decisions on the cross - he had to judge whether there was someone behind him or not."

Wales, who topped Group B on the way to this stage, will now face either Belgium or Hungary in the quarter-finals of the competition.