DRIVING US INDANE

Duffy wants to avoid Danish in Euro 2020 draw

SHANE DUFFY has one item on his wish list for the Euro 2020 draw next week – for Ireland to avoid Denmark.

Martin O’neill’s side have failed to beat the Danes in four matches over the past year and the centreback admits he’s still hurting from the 5-1 pasting in the World Cup play-off in November last year.

With Ireland confirmed as third seeds for the qualification draw on Sunday week in Dublin, they could meet the Danes in a third competition on the spin.

Age Hareide’s side were in casual mode in Monday’s stalemate in Aarhus, outplaying Ireland without having to win the match.

Seven points from their previous three games had wrapped up top spot in the UEFA Nations League group, allowing them to experiment and withdraw a jaded Christen Eriksen, inset, at half-time. Denmark, with their full squad available, remain far superior to Ireland, a fact Duffy all but acknowledged in outlining his vision for the composition of their new group. I know we’ve drawn three of the four games against Denmark but hopefully we don’t get them again in the Euros draw,” said the Brighton and Hove

Albion powerhouse.

The Derryman was trying to highlight the upside of a woeful year, the worst for an Ireland team since

1982.

While they’ve conceded just twice in five matches, Ireland have scored only once at the other end. The 26-year-old knows they can’t rely merely on defensive solidity to emerge from their slumber.

“Denmark put us under a lot of pressure on Monday night and we’re not happy with the lack of chances created for the lads up front,” said Duffy.

“I feel for the lads up front. We’re not giving them much service, forcing them to feed off scraps.

That has to change.

“I can’t come away just from a 0-0 draw believing everything is gleaming.

“It’s different for me because I’m just concentrating on keeping the back door shut, not conceding.

“Denmark caught us out a couple of times and we could have lost the match. We’ve a lot to improve on going forward because they had a lot of attempts and we didn’t.

“Of course, the hurt from the defeat to Denmark last year is still there but I’m hurting now too from this current year.

“As footballers, we have to try switch off and get back into the mode of club football for a game on Saturday.”

Duffy is anxious to move on from a run that has seen Ireland win just four out of 20 games in 2017 and 2018. “We’re not stupid,” he added.

“This hasn’t been a good year by our standards but we’ve the draw to look forward to.

“We got to the Euros and the World Cup but we’ve lost a few attacking players. “Hopefully, the new lads can benefit from this year and use it for the new campaign starting in March.”