The Northern Ireland team and their anguished Green and White Army of supporters tried to withstand the Siege of Nice yesterday evening.
One of their maxims is “dare to dream”, but it wasn’t to be. In 1689 the Apprentice Boys of Derry held out King William’s forces but how do you defend against the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Arkadiusz Milik, the goal-scorer who broke down the Northern gates?
For a little over 45 minutes, Northern Ireland held out but ultimately, the superior skills of the Polish players prevailed. The North had a couple of chances to retaliate but they were always on the back foot.
But if Northern Ireland lost 1-0, at least the fans stayed noisy and loyal. The Stade de Nice pulsed with the rival sets of fans competing for decibel dominance, the chants of "Northern Ireland" and "green and white army" out-blaring the shouts of "Polska, Polska". Occasionally, the two groups even sang the same airs, the Poles roaring out their own variation of Stand up for the Ulstermen which the Northerners sang with gusto.
From their arrival at the impressive stadium, the Northern Ireland supporters were made to feel at home: there was heavy armed security, a helicopter hovered overhead, there was water cannon on standby. This though was a far cry from the days of the Troubles or a bad Twelfth in north Belfast. Overwhelmingly, the Northern and Polish fans got on well together, notwithstanding the rivalry.
At the end of the game yesterday evening, the Poles naturally were in louder voice at that stage. Northern Ireland fans were deflated but as one supporter acknowledged, “The better team won, like.”
In halting English, a red-and-white flag-draped Polish supporter sympathised with a green-and-white clad father and son: “Don’t worry, you beat Germany.”
First Minister Arlene Foster also joined the fans in the Nice city centre earlier in the day and at the game later. She, too, was disappointed but praised the supporters. "It's wonderful to see the Polish fans and the Northern Ireland fans mixing together and having great fun – that's what it's about."
Next, Ukraine in Lyons and after that Germany in Paris.
