Northern Ireland v Germany, Thurs 5th October

He said: “I really can't believe how the whole group has gone for us so far. Every game we've wanted to win we've managed to win. Defensively we've been really, really solid and it's just gone exactly to plan. Football doesn't always go like that so it's probably a bit surprising. “I'm not sure of the permutations and it's very complicated in terms of the seeds and unseeded teams but I'd be very surprised if we missed out with 19 points.” And if things don’t go well against the Germans then the keeper believes Northern Ireland are more than capable of picking up a result in Oslo if they need to in the final game. Mind you, he is not thinking that far ahead. The focus for now is very much on Muller, Hummels, Kroos and co. He said: “It will be a very difficult game against Germany. This will be the third time we've faced them in 17 months so we know how hard it will be. “But it's football - you see some of the surprising results already in the qualifiers and we know we are more than capable of getting results, particularly at home.” Germany have never lost an away World Cup qualifier; a record which stretches back to 1934. However, McGovern is nevertheless hopeful of a positive result. He said: “I think we can get a result. Look at France drawing 0-0 with Luxembourg in Paris last month - anything can happen in football. “With the shape we have, and the work ethic we show, we are a hard team to score against. “San Marino or Germany - the world champions - we'll just keep doing what we've been doing because it is working.” Words Mark McIntosh, The Sun

never actually watched the game back from start to finish. “I’m the first to admit it was probably the best performance of my career but I think if you get carried away with one game and want to watch it all the time then you take your eye off the ball about what you should be doing.” He explained that after the Euros he had a few clips sent to him and it was good to see some of his saves again, however he doesn’t really think about the game at the Parc des Princes any more. The Norwich City keeper said: “We have, of course, also played Germany since in this campaign and last autumn I remember being more concerned about what I needed to do in that game than thinking about the game in the summer. “When I finish playing it will be a nice thing to look back on but until then all I care about are the games I can hopefully influence.” McGovern conceded once in France but twice in Hannover last autumn, although he believes that 2-0 defeat in Germany was a better performance than the one at the Parc des Princes. He said: “I know people will look at the results and think we didn’t play as well in Germany but I think it was a more complete performance from us. “Germany scored two early goals and a lot of people probably thought we’d get a hiding but the lads were brilliant. I didn’t really have much to do in the game and that says everything about how the lads played.” McGovern has kept clean sheets in seven out of the eight qualifiers in this campaign and the only goals Northern Ireland have conceded came in that Hannover clash. Since the last game against the Germans the Northern Ireland keeper has gone 613 minutes without being beaten, however Michael O’Neill’s troops may still need to add to their 19 points to secure a play-off place.

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