BEATEN IRISH BLOW BIG CHANCE

MICK McCARtHY wanted to know why there was so little excitement about his Republic of Ireland team on the eve of this game. Well, now he knows. After another uninspiring night here, they must beat Denmark in Dublin next month to avoid the Euro 2020 play-offs. three days on from their sour stalemate in Georgia, McCarthy’s side failed to score again. Switzerland were quicker, slicker, stronger and won thanks to a fine Haris Seferovic strike on 16 minutes and a late Shane Duffy own goal. Ireland captain Seamus Coleman was sent off for a handball that earned a second yellow card but Darren Randolph saved Ricardo Rodriguez’s subsequent penalty. Coleman, like his team-mates, had endured a wretched night. ‘Switzerland proved they’re a very good side, it’s no shock to me,’ said McCarthy. ‘We still have a chance to qualify automatically and I would have taken that.’ McCarthy started with Brighton teenager Aaron Connolly in attack, knowing that a win would see Ireland through. But they had more changes in formation than chances during a first half in which they struggled to string two passes together. they were much improved after the break but there is a sad inevitability about this team being incapable of reversing a scoreline once they fall behind. they just don’t do goals and even efforts on target are seldom seen these days. to avoid the ignominy of missing a tournament for which they are one of the hosts, Ireland will have to score a goal at some point — but on form that is about as likely as McCarthy scaling the nearby Mont Blanc.