AUSSIES ARE THROWN A LIFELINE BY VAR

ASTON VILLA’S Mile Jedinak maintained his status as the deadliest penalty-taker at the World Cup after another VAR controversy in Samara. Jedinak cancelled out Christian Eriksen’s stunning opener for Denmark by wrong-footing Kasper Schmeichel from the spot for the 16th conversion of his career from 16 attempts — the only player in Russia with a 100 per cent record. Denmark were left furious by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz’s call after a review to penalise Yussuf Poulsen even though he wasn’t looking at the ball when Mathew Leckie’s header hit his hand from close range. Republic of Ireland manager Martin

went for it in the second half. Mooy was supreme in midfield and fired narrowly wide from 25 yards. Substitute Arzani, the rising star of Aussie soccer, was lively but Schmeichel and Denmark stood firm.

DENMARK (4-3-3): Schmeichel 6; Dalsgaard 7, Kjaer 6, Christensen 7, Larsen 6; Delaney 5.5, Schone 6, Eriksen 6.5; Poulsen 6 (Braithwaite 59min, 5.5), N Jorgensen 7 (Cornelius 68, 6), Sisto 5. Scorer: Eriksen 7. Booked: Poulsen, Sisto. Manager: Age Hareide 6. AUSTRALIA (4-2-3-1): Ryan 7; Risdon 6, Sainsbury 6, Milligan 6.5, Behich 7; Jedinak 7, MOOY 8; Leckie 7.5, Rogic 7 (Irvine 82), Kruse 6 (Arzani 68, 6.5); Nabbout 5.5 (Juric 75, 6). Scorer: Jedinak 38 pen. Booked: None.

Manager: Bert van Marwijk 7. Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain) 6.

Attendance: 40,727.

it at the end when Schmeichel made fine saves from Aaron Mooy, Daniel Arzani and Leckie. ‘My players looked tired,’ said Denmark boss Age Hareide. ‘We lost the ball too often, faced too many counter-attacks and had to do too much running.’ Jedinak, 33,...

O’Neill was baffled. ‘What is Poulsen going to do with his arm, get it cut off?’ he fumed on ITV. Denmark still require a point against France to guarantee a spot in the last 16, while Australia must beat Peru to have a chance of qualifying from Group...