People rally around Gareth McAuley after his own goal knocked Northern Ireland out

Scoring an own goal that sees your team get knocked out of an international tournament must be one of the worst feelings a man can suffer.

But nobody blames Gareth McAuley for his own goal in Northern Ireland's match against Wales.

Gareth Bale whipped a ball across the face of the goal with such accuracy and pace, that if McAuley didn't challenge for the ball, Hal Robson-Kanu would have nudged it into the net anyway.

And football fans are getting behind the West Brom and Northern Ireland defender.

McCauley has been excellent as well 😞 Come On #NIR

— Adam Clift (@clifty04) June 25, 2016

Cruel game! Nothing else McCauley could have done. Doesn't deserve that after his heroics in the group stages! #EURO2016

— KICK (@KICK_GB) June 25, 2016

McAuley had no choice. He had to go for it. #NorthernIreland #Euros2016

— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) June 25, 2016

Feel for McCauley there. If he doesn't do something there it's going in anyway.

— WAVΞS (@wxvxs) June 25, 2016

Gotta feel for McCauley there

— Mattito Ortiz (@Carmichaael_) June 25, 2016

Would not want to be Gareth McCauley at this moment in time 😭⚽️

— George Wattam (@GWattam1710) June 25, 2016

Oh McCauley! Bad luck. Been great all game #EURO2016 #WALNIR

— Michael J. Topley (@MichaelJTopley) June 25, 2016

Poor bloke.

Wales went onto win the game 1-0, and will make history by going through to the quarter-finals of the tournament.