For the brilliant fans, Northern Ireland’s progress to the last 16 with a game at the weekend has left them in a bit of a pickle. 
Stay on and support the boys in green or return home where the demands of family life and work commitments are equally important. 
Craig Phair has been to all three group games and he admits that there are a lot of fans considering what to do. 
What’s more, the decision is not being helped by the level of adulation that not only the team is getting but the fans themselves who have been simply superb. 
Craig revealed what the atmosphere was like in the Parc des Princes on Tuesday evening. 
 “The celebrations last night were almost like we had won the Euros. Fans stayed in the stadium for 40 minutes after the final whistle singing and dancing before being ushered out of the stadium. The atmosphere cannot be described with words......it was sensational,” he exclaimed. 
“The German fans too were great, they were equally as delighted for us but I think this is because if you are anywhere in France at the minute in a NI Jersey, people are coming up to us in the street singing ‘Will Grigg’s on fire’ and screaming ‘GREEN AND WHITE ARMY’. 
“Not just the Germans, fans of every country want to get involved in this song. We teamed up with some German guys from our hostel and they even said that an upset could be on cards as we played our hearts out and were 100 per cent behind our boys.
Even after we conceded against Germany, the fans were right back on their feet to get the spirits raised and the singing just got louder and louder,” revealed Craig who is attending the games with friends from Maguiresbridge and the Riverside Bar GAWA. 
Craig added the atmosphere over the three qualifying games has been exceptional. 
“The partying in France ever since the first game in Nice has been crazy but we have overcome the odds and proved the likes of Michael Owen and Ray Wilkins wrong. The fans are extremely proud of the players and equally think that the players are proud of the fans. 
“Now all we can do is look at our next match and anything can happen in 90 minutes.”
Craig was glowing in their praise for the performance of Michael McGovern and he was delighted to see Lafferty get back on the field of play. “Michaels performance was just outstanding. Clearly man of the match. He single handedly prevented an 8-0 Germany win. He was in the form of his life and would remind you of Pat Jennings and his string of heroic saves back in the 80s. Even Jens Lehmann recognised his performance and asked if he could speak German. I would be very shocked if club offers didn’t come swarming in for him now and he thoroughly deserves it,” said Craig
And so, it is a weekend game in the last 16 that beckons. 
Craig and the fans are still daring to dream but they might have a few things to sort out if they are to stay on and cheer on Michael O’Neill’s charges. “In terms of staying on......we are all in a pickle. Work and wife commitments are most definitely going to be tested at this stage but ultimately as we have got this far, it would seem that a lot of fans will stay for the weekend.”