Euro 2016: Poland beat plucky Northern Ireland in Nice

A goal from Arkadiusz Milik gave Poland a 1-0 victory over a dogged Northern Ireland side in their Euro 2016 opener in Nice.

Michael O'Neill's team built their astonishing run to the finals on a strong rearguard, but they were over-reliant on it throughout this clash in Nice and were undone when the 22-year-old Ajax striker drilled in a superb low effort just after the interval.

Adam Nawalka's stylish team dominated from the kick off and forced the Irish back with some strong attacking down each flank. The Northern Ireland defence creaked but held firm for large spells as they were forced to repel wave after wave of attacks, with Kyle Lafferty left isolated in a lone striking role.

O'Neill did make some positive changes late on but it wasn't enough to alter the course of the game as Poland secured a deserved first ever win at a European Championships at the seventh attempt.

The Northern Irish will need to be more adventurous when they meet Ukraine next while the Poles will feel they have enough young talent at their disposal to progress past the group stage for the first time.

Should O'Neill have been more positive? Norn Iron came into the tournament on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run and hadn't conceded in 271 minutes of football - so why was O'Neill so negative? The switch to a 4-5-1 system meant Lafferty was left starved of service in attack and Poland were allowed to lay siege to the Irish goal from the off. The change of tactics came too late in the day to alter the course of the game and it leaves the underdogs with an even greater mountain to climb to reach the last 16 with Ukraine and Germany still to come.

Bartosz Kapustka (Poland). A toss up between the 19-year-old and Milik. This talented teen showed just why he was being dubbed a potential star pre-tournament by Poles with some lovely touches and attacking flair. Still plying his trade in his homeland, with KS Cracovia, but with this type of display it surely won't be long before he has a queue of suitors looking to change that.

NORTHERN IRELAND: McGovern 7; McLaughlin 7, Cathcart 7, Evans 8, McAuley 8; McNair 6, Norwood 6, Baird 6, Davis 6, Ferguson 6; Lafferty 5. Subs: Dallas 6, Washington 6, Ward 5.

POLAND: Szczęsny 6; Piszczek 8, Glik 7, Pazdan 6, Jędrzejcczyk 7; Błaszczykowski 8, Krychowiak 7, Maczyński 6, Kapustka 8; Milik 8, Lewandowski 6. Subs: Jodlowiec n/a, Grosicki n/a, Peszko n/a.

31' - POLAND CHANCE! Milik latches onto Piszczek cutback, ghosts past a challenge before lashing his shot wide of the upright. He should have scored. Let off for NI.

39' - POLAND CHANCE! The short corner causes problems in the Irish defence. Kapustka shows lovely footwork on the edge of the box and rockets in a shot that McGovern is forced to tip over at full stretch.

51' - GOAL! POLAND 1-0 NORTHERN IRELAND. Milik drills a low shot beyond the despairing dive of McGovern after Kuba had broken free on the right and cut it back into the forward's path.

86' - NORTHERN IRELAND CHANCE! A clever free kick sees Davis spin into space on the right of the area but as he turns to fire in a cross-shot he can't quite stretch enough and the chance goes begging.

87' - POLAND CHANCE! Grzegorz Krychowiak thunders a stunning 25 yard drive inches past the post with McGovern beaten at full stretch.

Northern Ireland failed to attempt a single shot in the first half.

They are the first team without a single shot in a half at the Euros since Italy versus the Netherlands in 2000.

Arek Milik (22y, 104d) is the youngest ever goal scorer for Poland at a European Championship

Jakub Blaszczykowski has had a hand in three of Poland's four goals at the EURO's (one goal, two assists).