Gomez stakes claim to be Germany's main striker at Euro 2016

PARIS - Two years on from perhaps his biggest disappointment in football, Mario Gomez staked a claim to lead Germany's misfiring attack at Euro 2016.

Gomez, who wasn't picked for Germany's triumphant 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign in Brazil through poor form, scored his side's only goal in a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

''I always said to myself, that wasn't it. That doesn't work. My time with the national team can't be ended like that,'' Gomez said. ''I followed the guys on TV in 2014 and was a huge fan. But I always had the urge to return, to be there again. It's simply something special, a special team packed with world class players.''

Germany coach Joachim Low opted for a more direct approach against Northern Ireland that involved giving Mario Gotze a free role and also gave Gomez his first start in the competition. Low had preferred Gotze alone up front in his side's opening two games.

Gomez made the breakthrough against Northern Ireland in the 30th minute when he played Thomas Muller in, and followed up to accept the back-pass and score with a deflected shot.

The goal ensured that Germany topped Group C to play one of the third-place teams in the Round of 16 in Lille on Sunday.

Low was fulsome in his praise of the striker.

''We didn't have a false nine but a real nine,'' Low said through a translator. ''He occupied two or three defenders because he likes to stay in the center ... That was very important to occupy these players.

''We need a player in this position to create space for Muller or Gotze. That's why Muller had three or four chances.''