Northern Ireland are prepared to learn from five-time World Cup winners Brazil's failings as they try to upset Germany and book a Euro 2016 last-16 berth in Paris.

The Green and White Army supporting Michael O'Neill's side in France include 'We're not Brazil, We're Northern Ireland' among their back catalogue of chants and they will be keen not to follow their lead when establishing a game-plan to nullify the reigning world champions.

Two years ago Brazil, then the hosts, were embarrassed in a 7-1 semi-final loss to Joachim Low's team in one of the most stunning results of all time.

And O'Neill, whose men would definitely seal their progress out of Group C at the Parc des Princes with a win, has promised that his resilient side will not fold in the same manner.

"What you learn from that is the situation of expectation, tension in the team and how to deal with disappointment on the football pitch, which I think Brazil didn't deal with particularly well," O'Neill said.

"It was fairly evident 20-to-25 mins into the game they were looking for the final whistle. If there's anything we do possess that maybe the Brazilians don't it's that we will go to the final whistle regardless of what the score is in the game.

"We didn't play as well as we could do in the first game, but we were in it until the final minute, we won the game against Ukraine and scored in the 96th minute so we will bring an intensity, a spirit, however long it lasts.

"Other than that, I'm not sure what we can possibly offer the Brazilians! From a tactical or coaching point of view, you probably saw everything not to do in the semi-final of the World Cup so we'll make sure we do everything in our power to prevent that kind of evening tomorrow."

The fact that the Northern Ireland boss was fielding questions about what Brazil can learn from his side shows how far the nation has come since they last met the Germans 11 years ago when, despite having 10 men for 75 minutes, the visitors won 4-1 in Belfast.

Their campaign in France has won admiration and support from the host nation and further afield, a fact that O'Neill attributes to their down-to-earth persona.

"Everyone has their favourite teams but if they see a smaller team do well in the tournament - we saw that with Leicester - they can become everyone else's second team," O'Neill added.

"If we've created that kind of atmosphere, that's a positive. We came in, we don't have an arrogance, we don't have a blase about us, we're a fairly humble team, a hard-working team but also have goals of our own that we want to achieve.

"Hopefully with the level of performance we can win some more friends and look forward to further participation."

Germany defender Mats Hummels may have been unfamiliar with the Northern Ireland tale prior to Euro 2016, but he has quickly turned into a fan of the Conor Washington and Will Grigg stories.

O'Neill's men were a largely unknown quantity to Hummels, who has never played against Northern Ireland in his career, but the popularity of one-time postman Washington and cult hero Grigg has garnered admiration from the 27-year-old.

And, in the unlikely event Wigan striker Grigg appears on the pitch at the Parc des Princes, Hummels confirmed that, although he is not 'terrified' of him, he will be asking for the Northern Irishman's number nine jersey due to the social media buzz his chant has created.

"Well, although I like the song and these actions, I would like to agree (that Germany are terrified) but it's not quite right," he said.

"I've heard about this call to the firefighters, I love that story! I'll try to give my jersey (to him) tomorrow. I don't want them to score but yes, I'm already a great fan of his."

The defender, who is swapping Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich this summer, stopped short of chanting the 'Will Grigg's On Fire' ditty himself, though, adding: "I'm maybe the worst singer in this team so I won't do this!"

One player more likely to see the field in Paris is Washington, who started up front in Lyon against Ukraine and may retain his spot for a clash which could seal Northern Ireland's last-16 progress.

The QPR striker was delivering post while playing non-league football four years ago and his rise, similar to that of England's Jamie Vardy, has impressed Hummels.

"I've heard about the story, I love stories like that," he added.

"We know they live from the emotions and are supported from the fans, I think one-tenth of the Northern Irish are present right here at this tournament. It's more difficult for us, we can't transport eight million people over here!"