So cruel

on O’Neill and believe he could work the same miracle. Critically, O’Neill’s £750,000 compensation clause in his contract, which runs until June 2020, does not apply to international sides.

Whatever happens next with the manager no one can deny he has given the Green and White Army one hell of a ride.

Northern Ireland’s historic run to the last 16 of the Euros was the stuff of dreams for fans starved of success for over a generation.

They produced a magnificent effort last night in Switzerland and improved markedly on Thursday’s poor display.

Hearts stopper Hughes defied father time, having turned 38 last week, at right-back to win his 109th cap and break Bobby Moore’s record as the Home Nations’ most-capped defender. The Irish were much more positive and Chris Brunt twice forced saves from Yann Sommer before wasting a free-kick.

The Swiss also had chances and Haris Seferovic glanced a header wide before shooting into the side netting.

Xherdan Shaqiri, whose volley led to Switzerland’s controversial Belfast penalty, threatened down the right in tandem with the excellent Stephan Lichtsteiner.

The Stoke star cut inside to hit a left-foot shot which was saved at his near post by Michael McGovern and the Norwich keeper then denied Steven Zuber with another fine stop.

Conor Washington led the line in place of Kyle Lafferty and headed just wide from a great break involving Jamie Ward and George Saville.

The Irish kept battling and Saville was denied by Sommer from Washington’s cross.

The Swiss had chances to kill off Northern Ireland and McAuley made a fine block to deny them while Seferovic’s finishing went from bad to worse.

Denis Zakaria set him up in front of goal five minutes from time, only for the Benfica striker to fire over.

In stoppage time the Irish thought they had done it when Evans connected with Brunt’s cross, only for Rodriguez to intervene as he hacked the ball off the line.

With that clearance, Northern Ireland’s dream was finally dead.