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Northern Ireland secured their place at Euro 2016 with a brilliant 3-1 victory over a hopeless Greece side

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Thu 8 Oct 2015 16.53 EDTFirst published on Thu 8 Oct 2015 13.45 EDT
Northern Ireland's Steve Davis against Greece
Northern Ireland’s Steve Davis celebrates after scoring the third goal in their Euro 2016 qualifier against Greece. Photograph: Oliver McVeigh/Corbis
Northern Ireland’s Steve Davis celebrates after scoring the third goal in their Euro 2016 qualifier against Greece. Photograph: Oliver McVeigh/Corbis

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Gareth McAuley talks to Sky, and is asked what has carried them to qualification:

It’s pure hard work. It is a squad, it’s a team. We aren’t blessed with world-class individuals but we’re a strong unit, and the spirit, the belief to do it has been there right from the start, and it’s unbelievable to be able to say that we’re going to France.

Big Josh, as well, coming in and making his first start. He’s the heart and soul of the squad and I’m so pleased for him.

There’s been some highs for me in individual games, but right from the game against these away there was a real belief that we could get over the line, and I can’t put into words what it means right now.

Michael O’Neill gets the bumps while Josh Magennis is interviewed on Sky:

I can’t put it into words, I really can’t. I dreamed this moment. Just to be part of a team that qualified, but to grab a goal and do it convincingly against a great European side, it’s unbelievable. We’d worked on set pieces all week, and it came off my head and it was just euphoric.

It’s just unbelievable team belief. Outsiders always say that we might not be the best quality, but we’ve got that never give up attitude. We’re just fighters, and when you put it together we’re a formidable team. It’s unbelievable.

Michael O’Neill celebrates after qualification is secured. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters
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The match in Romania has indeed ended 1-1. Hungary lead the Faroe Islands 2-1 in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Steven Davis’s reaction:

It was an unbelievable night. First half we maybe rode our luck a little bit, second half we showed how good we are. We stuck to our game plan, created a number of chances and lucky enough we got a couple.

It’s a dream come true to do it here. There’s no better place to do it, in front of our own fans who’ve pushed us all the way. All the lads were desperate to get ourselves there. It’s a huge achievement for the lads and for the country.

The manager’s been magnificent since he came in. His preparation, his attention to detail.

Northern Ireland fans celebrate the victory at Windsor Park. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA
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Northern Ireland have qualified for Euro 2016!!! Final score: Northern Ireland 3-1 Greece

90+4 mins: It’s all over! Or rather, it’s all about to begin!

Steven Davis celebrates with teammates at the end of the match. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters
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90+1 mins: Into stoppage time we go, and there’ll be three minutes of it. “I’m a RoI fan sitting on the runway at Malaga Airport going to miss the last ten mins,” writes John. “They say you need to be Irish to know the world will break your heart eventually – hope not!”

GOAL! Northern Ireland 3-1 Greece

86 mins: It’s that chipped ball over the defence again, and this time Torosidis is just onside, and his low centre is turned in by Aravidis. Just a consolation, surely.

83 mins: Even the Guardian’s editor is getting excited by all this British/Irish international excellence.

Ireland! Scotland!

— Katharine Viner (@KathViner) October 8, 2015
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82 mins: It’s turning into a pretty good night for the Republic of Ireland as well – they’ve been under the cosh for the majority of their game against Germany, but Shane Long has put them 1-0 up, with 15 minutes to play.

80 mins: Ireland work space on the right, with nice work from Norwood and Davis, and the former’s low cross is cleared to the latter, whose shot pings about a bit before falling to McNair, who shoots wide.

76 mins: One last substitution for the Greeks, Mitroglou coming off and Athanasiadis coming on. Meanwhile Böde has scored again, and Hungary lead the Faroes 2-1.

76 mins: It ends with Davis tapping the ball to his right for Corry Evans to run on to, but his shot flies wide.

72 mins: The goals are flying in around Europe, but in Belfast the action has dried up a bit. Greece are currently passing the ball around their back four. And Jared Brown has come over all Michael Jackson for some reason.

@Simon_Burnton "I'm Böde, I'm Böde. Shamon!"

— Jared Brown (@BrownSthlm) October 8, 2015

69 mins: And in the group’s other game it’s now Romania 0-1 Finland, which is a boost for Northern Ireland’s hopes of topping the group.

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