The 2-0 victory for Northern Ireland over Ukraine will go down in the history books.
The North’s victory in Lyon was their first win at a major tournament since Gerry Armstrong’s winner against Spain 34 years ago.
But the game was remarkable for other reasons as crazy arctic weather brought a (brief) halt to the game during the second half. res.
The Northern Irish side had just taken the lead when hailstones the size of snowballs began pelting down from the sky.
The referee was forced to suspend the game while the ground was buffeted by huge chunks of falling ice.
Some Irish style hailstones falling in Lyon and the ref CALLS THE PLAYERS OFF. This is beer garden weather for Irish people
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/MatthewStanger/status/743494246032879617
Less than a minute later the players were summoned back on to the pitch in what must surely be the shortest match abandonment of all time.
And now they come back out. Nonsense
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/TelegraphDucker/status/743492211480870912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
People watching back at home couldn’t help having a wee joke…
https://twitter.com/cooneyjerry23/status/743493680066076672
Game stops for giant hailstones.
What do the Northern Ireland fans do? Take their tops off and sing Will Griggs on Fire! Love it. #UKRNIR— Jon Blower (@jonblower) June 16, 2016
I remember a night at Fivepenny where the hailstones were so bad, I couldn't lift my head to face the play. Didn't stop the game!
— Domhnall Macsween (@sweenyness) June 16, 2016
Heavy downpour with hailstones. Ran around my house closing windows … argh!!! 😕 pic.twitter.com/CJuEdlPvMQ
— ANGEL ON ASSIGNMENT (@MS_Isaiah54_17) June 16, 2016
Hailstones in France = football match stopped. Hailstones in N Ireland = don't even bother taking the washing in #gawa
— Siobhan McGuigan (@siobhanmcguigan) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/Alan9269/status/743493511459246085
A certain Mr Grigg will be able to melt the hailstones #NIRUKR #NIR
— Shaun Dyas (@Shaunnyboy85) June 16, 2016
in my day we'd be glad of some hailstones to heat us up!
— Paul Burgoyne (@pburgoyne75) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/Islandhopper74/status/743493164120563712
Roy Keane would have eaten those hailstones 😂
— Gerry Ward (@G3WRD) June 16, 2016
Are golf balls getting smaller or do people exaggerate that much about the size of hailstones? #UKRNIR
— Chris Shenfield (@shenfield_chris) June 16, 2016
Hailstones??…. Mothers in Ireland and NI would be sending their kids outside to play in worse! Thats Summer weather for us! #EURO2016
— Elaine McDonald (@Elaine_Mc) June 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/daniel21war/status/743492906711945221
https://twitter.com/hasasimo/status/743492879449001984
Bet the lads feel at home now! #hailstones #GAWA
— Shane Pearce (@ShanePearce) June 16, 2016
