Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
The only times I cried tears of joy were my wedding day, the birth of my children and the special day we beat UKRAINE
Hero Evans on emotion of legendary Lyon win
JONNY EVANS was once sceptical about shedding tears of joy on a football stage.
But that opinion changed this day four years ago when Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 2-0 in the midst of a biblical downpour in Lyon.
Under a Guinness-black French sky, tears welled in Evans’ eyes as he and younger brother Corry drank in one of Northern Ireland’s greatest ever results.
A Gareth Mcauley header and late Niall Mcginn strike sealed a first win at a major tournament in 34 years and paved the way to the knockout stages of Euro 2016.
“When I had heard people mention ‘tears of joy’ in a football capacity I was always sceptical but I experienced tears of joy after the Ukraine game,” said Evans.
“I’ve always shed a tear when things are sad but the only times I’ve had tears of joy were on my wedding day, the birth of my children and beating Ukraine. Lyon was the first time I’ve been as emotional as I was after winning a game of football.”
Evans, who has amassed 84 caps since making his debut in a famous 3-2 win over Spain in 2006, chuckles when he recalls his younger brother’s reaction to his raw emotion in Lyon.
Embracing afterwards in the changing room, a bemused Corry sighed: “What are you crying for?”
“Corry and I have always been a bit like that growing up, so it made me smile,” laughed 32-year-old Jonny. “If we were watching a sad movie, I might be on the brink of getting emotional and Corry would be looking at me saying, ‘What are you at mate?’.
“There were a few others emotional in the changing room after the Ukraine game and I think it just came over us after such a big win.
“When you add nerves and sheer exhaustion to the elation of winning at a major tournament, it all came out in that moment.”
Northern Ireland had headed to Lyon on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Poland in Nice and with the knowledge another defeat would