Ireland will be out for revenge but we are up for challenge
KASPER Schmeichel insists it would be a “serious mistake” for the Danes to expect another demolition at the Aviva Stadium tonight.
The Leicester City goalkeeper and his Denmark team-mates last night returned to the scene of their 5-1 World Cup play-off victory over Ireland last November.
Christian
Eriksen was the central figure in a dark night for Irish football, but the Tottenham man is out of this Nations League game with a stomach injury.
“I think we’ve got very good players all round,” stressed Schmeichel, addressing the loss of the team’s most creative force.
He added: “It would be a serious mistake on our part to underestimate Ireland, they will probably be looking for some sort of revenge.
“But we have a lot of confidence in whoever steps into the team. We’re not complacent – we’re highly-motivated.” Ireland’s scoring threat has largely been set-piece dependent of late and it speaks volumes Shane Duffy is seen as one of coach Martin O’neill’s most viable goal hopes.
Duffy leads the way in terms of Irish goals in the Premier League with two. “Obviously we’re aware of it, we’re aware of him from the Premier League,” said Schmeichel (inset).
“We’re also aware of the last two games, when they relied heavily on set pieces as well – every free kick 50 yards out was coming into the box. But we have strong players in the air for set-pieces as well – and we’re ready for it.”
Denmark boss Age Hareide raised eyebrows just under a year ago when he publicly thanked O’neill after the Aviva Stadium rout for changing his formation and providing Eriksen with the freedom of Dublin.
O’neill has since remarked he had heard his former Norwich City teammate – and housemate – regretted those comments uttered in the heat of the post-match celebrations.
In fairness to O’neill, he had put the remarks down to just that.
“I haven’t spoken to Martin,” Hareide admitted.
He added: “Especially in the second half, I don’t know if their players were tired or what happened because they left a lot of space for Christian.
“Not so much in the first half, but then they looked like they were tired.
“They scored to make it 1-0, they had a chance to make it 2-0.
“They’re the small margins in football. You have to take your opportunities.
“They changed formation in the secnod half as well and that might be the reason too, I don’t know.”
Hareide also predicted that Ireland will play for revenge and insisted the Danes can extend their unbeaten 20-match run – not including the World Cup penalty loss to Croatia – without Eriksen.
“He’s an important player,” said Hareide. “But we haven’t focused so much on him, but instead on the players that are here. OK, we may have to play a different way without him but we’ve showed that we’ve a lot of good players, and that the team is actually working for each other.
“I don’t think missing Christian will be any sort of excuse after the game. We just have to show ourselves and do our best.
“If we win we’ll definitely look at topping the group, but we know the difficulties. But the games against Wales and Ireland will be even matches, that’s our attitude.”