It was the standout performance of the tournament to date as Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern made one world class save after another to at times singlehandedly thwart World champions Germany in Paris on Tuesday night.
And the Enniskillen man has had praise heaped on him from all quarters for his wonderful display in the 1-0 defeat, Mario Gomez’s first half strike giving Germany the points. 
He stood tall in the face of constant German pressure, he was big and brave as he batted away everything that Joachim Low’s side had to throw at him, using every part of his body to do so. And he showed unbelievable quality in pushing away efforts that looked certain to end in goals.
He was the unquestionable man of the match and his saves proved decisive as Northern Ireland sealed their place in the last 16 of the tournament on goal difference.
McGovern though batted away the praise on Wednesday morning, instead stressing that it was a team effort that has got Northern Ireland into the next round.
“It was a busy night but it was busy for the whole team. We were playing against the world champions and they were on top form so it was going to be very difficult. I thought we defended well, we put our bodies on the line and we showed great heart. Thankfully the 1-0 result was enough to get us through, that was the main objective,” he stated.
Indeed, McGovern says that the heart they have shown throughout qualification and during the tournament so far has been the key ingredient of their success.
“I think Michael (O’Neill) said it in the past that we might not be the best team in the world but we have got the biggest heart and we showed that against Germany. We showed great character and we worked ever so hard. The opposition was top quality but we played well considering who we played against and it is job done,” he added.
The Fermanagh man admits though that it was a mentally draining evening as he withstood the German barrage and he is proud of his efforts at Parc des Princes.
“It was tough mentally and it was the same for the defenders in front of me as we were under so much pressure. It was a strange game because we knew that even though we were losing 1-0, goal difference was so important and we couldn’t afford to let any more goals in. It was really important that if we didn’t get the equaliser that we at least kept it at 1-0 and that turned out to be enough for us to get through. 
“I’m proud of how it went for me personally and for the team. Maybe if we had been beaten by a few more goals we would have been sweating on the results on Wednesday night for qualification but because of the narrow defeat whenever we got on the train we knew we were through and that was a great feeling.We happy now and we’re looking forward to the next round,” he commented.
One of the first people on to the pitch to congratulate McGovern on his performance was fellow Fermanagh man and Northern Ireland team-mate Roy Carroll and McGovern says that despite the two of them battling for the same spot, they have a great relationship.
“Roy has been brilliant with me. I get on really well with him, he is from Fermanagh so we have that in common and we are good mates. Obviously we are both vying for the jersey but that doesn’t affect our friendship and support for each other. I couldn’t speak higher of him.”
After the game he left the pitch with German number one Manuel Neuer’s jersey, not something that McGovern would have envisaged even a year ago.
“Football’s a funny game, I wouldn’t have thought that even a year ago that I would be swapping jerseys with Manuel Neuer! It has only been a year since my first competitive start against Romania and it has been a whirlwind for me personally and for the team as well. The whole experience of this Euros has been an absolute dream,” he commented.
And it’s a dream that he doesn’t want to end with Northern Ireland now setting their sights on making it through to the quarter-finals.
“We wanted to get out of the group, we didn’t want to be just there to make up the numbers and now that we have achieved that we want to get through the next round and I think we can, no matter who we play. As a footballer you are always greedy for another result and we want to get through to the quarter-finals now. We want more,” he concluded as the modest keeper looked forward with some relish to another massive international game on Saturday or Sunday.