Lee Hodson joined MK Dons teammate Simon Church in the knockout stages of Euro 2016, courtesy of results in favour of Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
Northern Ireland were beaten 1-0 by Germany in Paris but because of Turkey’s victory over Czech Republic later in the evening, they are guaranteed to finish as one of the top four third-placed teams in the tournament.
Had Michael O’Neill’s men lost by a greater amount of goals then their place in the Last 16 would have been in jeopardy, which is why goalkeeper Michael McGovern’s superb performance between the sticks was so crucial.
The stopper made a number of excellent saves to thwart the Germans, who only scored once through Mario Gomez in the first half and that, coupled with Turkey’s slender win in Lens, means they will make it through to the second round stage.
Courtesy of the result, right-back Hodson, along with striker Will Grigg, joins four other ex-Dons in the Last 16 – Dele Alli (England), Simon Church (Wales), Jonny Williams (Wales) and George Williams (Wales).
His Northern Ireland side must wait to discover their next opponent, which will either be fellow home nation Wales or host country France depending on results in the final set of group games.
Alli and England will play the runners-up of Group F, while Church’s Wales will take a third-placed team from either Group A, C or D.
Had Michael O’Neill’s men lost by a greater amount of goals then their place in the Last 16 would have been in jeopardy, which is why goalkeeper Michael McGovern’s superb performance between the sticks was so crucial.
The stopper made a number of excellent saves to thwart the Germans, who only scored once through Mario Gomez in the first half and that, coupled with Turkey’s slender win in Lens, means they will make it through to the second round stage.
Courtesy of the result, right-back Hodson, along with striker Will Grigg, joins four other ex-Dons in the Last 16 – Dele Alli (England), Simon Church (Wales), Jonny Williams (Wales) and George Williams (Wales).
His Northern Ireland side must wait to discover their next opponent, which will either be fellow home nation Wales or host country France depending on results in the final set of group games.
Alli and England will play the runners-up of Group F, while Church’s Wales will take a third-placed team from either Group A, C or D.
