Scoring an own goal that sees your team get knocked out of an international tournament must be one of the worst feelings a man can suffer.
But nobody blames Gareth McAuley for his own goal in Northern Ireland’s match against Wales.
Gareth Bale whipped a ball across the face of the goal with such accuracy and pace, that if McAuley didn’t challenge for the ball, Hal Robson-Kanu would have nudged it into the net anyway.
And football fans are getting behind the West Brom and Northern Ireland defender.
McCauley has been excellent as well 😞 Come On #NIR
— Adam Clift (@clifty04) June 25, 2016
Cruel game! Nothing else McCauley could have done. Doesn't deserve that after his heroics in the group stages! #EURO2016
— KICK (@KICK_GB) June 25, 2016
McAuley had no choice. He had to go for it. #NorthernIreland #Euros2016
— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) June 25, 2016
Feel for McCauley there. If he doesn't do something there it's going in anyway.
— WAVΞS (@wxvxs) June 25, 2016
Gotta feel for McCauley there
— Mattito Ortiz (@Carmichaael_) June 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/Wiggins07LFC/status/746758065588944896
Would not want to be Gareth McCauley at this moment in time 😭⚽️
— George Wattam (@GWattam1710) June 25, 2016
Oh McCauley! Bad luck. Been great all game #EURO2016 #WALNIR
— Michael J. Topley (@MichaelJTopley) June 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/NowakLaw/status/746758087063703553
Poor bloke.
Wales went onto win the game 1-0, and will make history by going through to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
