ONLY MUL NORSES

Danish thoroughbreds make Ireland look like donkeys as World Cup bid dies a death

THIS was the football equivalent of death by a thousand cuts – self-inflicted ones at that and therein lies the Irish agony.

The Republic of Ireland let a winning position slip from their grasp as familiar failings returned to haunt Martin O’neill and his players.

Yet again, their inability to protect an early lead came back to bite them as they dished up two goals on a plate to opponents made look better than they are.

And from there Denmark never looked back as Tottenham star Christian Eriksen filleted broken men i n green shirts with a brilliant hat-trick.

Take nothing away from the quality of his first two goals. Subdued in Copenhagen on Saturday, he came roaring back to life here by dragging the Danes to Russia.

Their talisman during the qualifying campaign with eight goals, his first two here were the pick of the bunch.

That Ireland scored 13 goals in this entire qualifying campaign and Eriksen has 11 of his own, tells you all you need to know.

What briefly threatened to be a f a mo u s n i g h t for Ireland unravelled spectacularly.

Cyrus Christie’s own goal was unfortunate but a less forgivable Stephen Ward mistake paved the way for Eriksen to open his account. Not that he was looking for it on this of all nights, but O’neill may feel a sense of vindication when the dust settles.

His rough and tumble approach to games has been lambasted by some who craved more attacking intent.

Needing two goals at the start of the second-half, he u n l e a s h e d We s

Hoolahan and Aiden

Mcgeady for David

Meyler and Harry Arter.

But in doing so, Ireland’s defensive ballast that has made them such pain-in-the-backside opponents was always going to be surrendered – and Denmark had a field day.

O’neill had to go for it but his team was carved open like a Sunday roast as the Danes marauded forward with Eriksen and Pione Sisto running riot.

The opening six minutes had already been more riveting than the 90 in Copenhagen and Shane Duffy ’s goal had Aviva

Stadium rocking and daring to dream.

Just as he did in Georgia, the big defender headed home after striker Nicolai Jorgensen created panic in the Danish box with a woeful attempt to clear Robbie Brady’s free.

But while the goal energised the hosts, it changed nothing for the visitors who still had to score – and they wasted no timesetting about it.

Darren Randolph kept up his sparkling form from the firstleg by denying William Kvist and Pione Sisto in quick succession. Yet Ireland, at that stage, were giving as good as they got and D ar y l Mur phy h a d K a sp er Schmeichel at full-stretch when prodding Christie’s cross at goal with the outside of his boot. Mcclean then flashed a low shot across the face of goal after a flowing move.

But defensively, Ireland were leaking like a rusty bucket all across midfield and Meyler and full-back Christie were repeatedly targeted.

And the Danes duly stole their march midway through the half. Si sto nutmeg ged Arter after a shortcorner and his cross found Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen whose prodded shot clipped the post before Christie nudged it over the line.

A hammer blow, but worse would follow.

Ireland’s World Cup fate was sealed three minutes later after Ward coughed up ball to Yussuf Poulsen who triggered a sublime one-touch move.

Jorgensen played his part in teeing up Eriksen who dispatched a delicious high shot into the net.

Ireland were falling apart and there was no way back. Heads were gone by halftime and never remerged.

Changes in personnel led to a see-saw second-half but while the handbrake was released, Ireland were careering backwards down the hill at pace.

And in the space of nine minutes, Eriksen buried two sweat goals midway through the half before Nicklas Bendtner rubber-stamped a nightmare night for Ireland from the penalty spot.

Ireland had kept Gareth

Bale and Zlatan

I b ra h i mov i c u n d e r wraps on big nights, but dangerman

Eriksen’s class shone throughout on a night to forget for all involved.