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O'Neill's outfit 1-5 to make next round

THERE were wild scenes of celebration from Albanians after their country gained their first ever European Championship victory on Sunday and that joy was matched in Belfast with Northern Ireland now on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages of Euro 2016.

Albania, the first team to secure a third-place finish, ended Group A with just three points and a goal difference of minus two.

Northern Ireland already have three points and a goal difference of plus one so it was a huge boost for Michael O’Neill’s men that Albania beat Romania 1-0 to jump up to third.

Northern Ireland had been 1-2 with Paddy Power prior to Group A’s climax but they are now 1-5 as O’Neill’s side prepare to take on world champions Germany in Paris on Tuesday.

Germany are 1-5 to finish on top of Group C with Poland, who tackle eliminated Ukraine, 5-1 to claim first place. Northern Ireland can be backed at 22-1 with Paddy Power but crucially they are as big as 9-2 with bet365 not to reach the first knockout round.

Finishing first in Group D is important as it will allow the table-toppers to meet a third-place side whereas the runners-up must face Italy and that honour will be decided when Spain clash with Croatia.

A point suits Spain, who are 1-4 to secure the easier knockout path and the reigning champions are 100-30 favourites to retain the crown.

France, who topped Group A with a 0-0 draw against Switzerland on Sunday, are 7-2 to lift the Henri Delaunay Cup on home soil.

Les Bleus will meet a third-placed team from Group C, D or E in the last 16 in Lyon on Sunday at 2pm.

The fact four third-placed teams will qualify for the knockouts means most countries can recover from poor starts, something that applies to Tuesday’s Group D rivals Czech Republic and Turkey.

Czech Republic are 13-10 with Coral to make the last 16 and Turkey are 7-1 with bet365.

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