NORTHERN Ireland's remarkable Euro 2016 dream is still alive after they secured passage through to the last 16 of the competition.
Michael O'Neill's men had been left unsure of their fate at the final whistle of their 1-0 defeat by world champions Germany on Tuesday afternoon.
Their chances of securing a place in the knockout stage of the tournament hung in the balance for a few hours as the green and white army awaited the outcome of other games.
But with three points to their name, a neutral goal difference and other results going their way, Northern Ireland joined some of Europe's elite footballing nations in the next stage of Euro 2016.
The defeat to Germany had done nothing to quell the spirit of supporters both at home and in Paris.
There was a party atmosphere on the Titanic slipways in Belfast as around 15,000 supporters packed into the fanzone to watch the crunch match.
Buoyed by victory against Ukraine last week, supporters chanted and sang tunes in homage to team favourites like captain Steven Davis and midfielder Corry Evans.
There were also hearty renditions of "We're the Ulster boys making all the noise" and "We're not Brazil, we're Northern Ireland".
Even after Mario Gomez's first-half goal for Germany, fans sang their way through the game with Jamie Hanna bringing his drum from Kilkeel to lead the crowd with chants of "Green and White Army".
The qualification party has begun in front of the Eiffel Tower. pic.twitter.com/scmeD15aX1 — Mark Simpson (@BBCMarkSimpson) June 21, 2016
Andrew Thompson from Randalstown said the Northern Ireland squad should he proud.
"I did believe we could win but I was still impressed with the performance. I'll support them all the way," he said.
The biggest praise of the night went to goalkeeper Michael McGovern, who time and again protected Northern Ireland's all-important goal difference.
The Enniskillen man later laughed off the praise, saying only that he had been kept "busy" during the match.
Meanwhile, in Paris, a sea of green and white invaded the French capital as supporters besieged the city in a mass of green shirts, flags, sombreros and banners.
Among those watching the match at the Parc des Princes was Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness who was attending his first Northern Ireland game.
There were also emotional scenes as fans applauded and chanted in memory of Robert 'Archie'' Rainey, the Northern Ireland fan who passed away during the side's win over Ukraine last Thursday.
The 64-year-old collapsed during the match in Lyon and Northern Ireland team wore black armbands in his memory on Tuesday.
During the 64th minute, fans also chanted "Archie, Archie, Archie".
The final round of group games takes place in France on Wednesday, with the Republic of Ireland taking centre stage as they attempt to defeat Italy to secure passage to the next round.
