The Republic of Ireland guaranteed themselves at least a playoff place in Euro 2016 qualifying with a famous 1-0 victory over Germany this evening.

The hosts found themselves on the back foot for the majority of the match, but Shane Long came off the bench to score the only goal of the game 20 minutes from time.

The world champions could not find a way back into the game, leaving Ireland facing an automatic qualification showdown with Poland on Sunday.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how things transpired on a memorable night in Dublin.

Match statistics

IRELAND
Shots: 5
On target: 2
Possession: 28%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 13

GERMANY
Shots: 16
On target: 3
Possession: 72%
Corners: 11
Fouls: 5

Was the result fair?

It is hard to begrudge Ireland the victory tonight given how much effort and energy they put into the game, but even the most ardent home fan would acknowledge that this was a smash-and-grab job - not that they will care one bit. Germany were undoubtedly the better side when it came to general play tonight. They completely controlled possession and most of it came inside the Ireland half, but something seemed to happen to the world champions when it came to the final third.

It is no surprise that all of the stats are heavily in the visitors' favour tonight. They had 72% of the ball and more than three times as many shots as Ireland, but the most telling statistic of all the above was that Germany only managed three on target. They didn't create quite as many chances as they should have considering how dominant they were for long spells, but when they did get into good positions, they failed to test the keeper. Shay Given did not have a save to make during his time on the field, while substitute Darren Randolph was not called into action until the final 10 minutes, by which time Ireland were ahead.

That profligacy in front of goal is what cost Germany today. Their movement and build-up play was, at times, everything that you would expect from a side boasting such creative talents, and on a few occasions it seemed an inevitability that they would find the breakthrough sooner rather than later, but that goal never came. They had the chances, possession and territory to have won this game, fairly comfortably too, but Ireland were clinical when it mattered and pulled off a monumental shock.

Ireland's performance

It is safe to say that every Irish football fan will be beaming with pride right now, and manager Martin O'Neill will be no different. The draw they achieved in Gelsenkirchen last year suggested that they were capable of getting something from this match, but to have beaten the world champions is still an incredible achievement and tonight will rightly go down as one of the finest results in the country's footballing history, particularly considering how hard they had to work for it.

The hosts were pretty much on the back foot from start to finish, and while ultimately it was a heroic defensive performance, often their back four went too narrow and allowed Germany plenty of joy down the flanks. In the first half especially it looked as though the opening goal was just around the corner for Germany, despite them failing to test either Given or Randolph. They didn't cut Ireland open quite as readily in the second half, but the pressure was still relentless and the best chances arrived after the break.

That Ireland won this match is largely down to some poor German finishing, but take nothing away from the heart, desire and determination from each and every player in a green shirt tonight. They all ran their socks off for the team, and when their chance came Long took it with aplomb. The job is not yet done, though, and this result will give them the confidence that they can go to Warsaw and clinch automatic qualification on Sunday. Poland's late goal against Scotland makes that task a little harder, but Ireland will feel that they can beat anyone after tonight's display.

Germany's performance

Joachim Low and his players will be scratching their heads right now, wondering just how they have come away from this match empty handed. They spent more or less the entire 90 minutes in the ascendancy, and almost as long inside the Irish half. The pressure was relentless, and Germany played some nice football at times, but the end product was never there. The visitors had scored in 40 of their previous 41 international matches going into this game, but they showed no signs of that ruthlessness this evening.

Thomas Muller, who himself had netted six times in his last four qualifiers, squandered the best chance of the lot when he put a sitter, by his standards, wide of the post with just over 10 minutes remaining. He was not the only guilty party, though, with Jerome Boateng, Andre Schurrle, Mesut Ozil and Mats Hummels also missing clear goalscoring openings. It was never easy for Germany to get through Ireland's stout and stubborn defence, but the visitors had the chances to have won this game relatively comfortably.

They only have themselves to blame for the fact that they didn't. They will feel gutted to have been hit with the smash-and-grab, but once again the blame lies on German shoulders for the goal. One straight ball forward from the keeper beat the entire defence to send Long clean through on goal, and the Ireland sub left Manuel Neuer no chance. Georgia await on Sunday and it would be a major shock if Die Mannschaft didn't seal their place at Euro 2016 as Group D winners there, but this will still be a tough pill to swallow for the world champions.

Sports Mole's man of the match

John O'Shea: A tough award to give in a match such as this, but John O'Shea is as deserving as anyone. The skipper led by example throughout a heroic defensive performance from the hosts, including one particularly notable block to deny Ilkay Gundogan a glorious chance in the first half.

Biggest gaffe

Germany's defensive work for Ireland's goal deserves an honourable mention, but this simply has to go to Muller. The Bayern Munich man has been in such good form for club and country recently, but he failed to hit the target from 12 yards in the centre of the area with time and space to pick his spot. Everyone was waiting for the net to bulge, but he sent his effort wide of the post.

Referee performance

This was a relatively comfortable night for Carlos Velasco. He produced just two yellow cards, and the first of those did not arrive until the 86th minute, although he was fooled by a dive from Long on that occasion.

What next?

Ireland: It only gets bigger for Ireland as they are set for a straight shootout with Poland in Warsaw to determine who automatically qualifies. A win or a draw of 2-2 or higher would send Ireland through, while defeat, a 0-0 draw or a 1-1 draw would put Poland through.

Germany: Germany, meanwhile, take on Georgia on Sunday knowing that they would qualify should they avoid another shock defeat. A loss, coupled with a draw between Poland and Ireland, would see Die Mannschaft drop to third, but a win would see them top the group.