The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Floored by a bunch of fives
Play-off: O’Neill defiant after Danes crush Republic’ s World Cup dreams
REP OF IRELAND 1 DENMARK 5
Aggregate: 1-5
Martin O’Neill dismissed the suggestion his luck had run out after the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup dream was ended by Denmark last night.
Republic manager O’Neill was also defiant when asked if the 5-1 playoff defeat would have any effect on his verbal agreement with Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney over a contract extension.
The Republic were repeatedly picked off as they threw caution to the wind, something they have rarely done during O’Neill’s fouryear reign.
Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen fired a hat-trick as the home supporters in Dublin saw their hopes of a trip to Russia 2018 end in tatters.
O’Neill said of his contract situation: “I haven’t spoken to John since we talked about it, so I’ll speak to him, I’m sure. There was an agreement but I’ll speak to John in the next couple of weeks.”
He was irked by the notion his luck may have turned on a night when a positive start unravelled alarmingly.
He said: “That’s simply not true. I didn’t win those trophies that I have won both as a player and as a manager and have some luck. Everybody is entitled to a little bit of luck, so I totally disagree with you.
“We were well beaten tonight by a side that was technically better than us and have a word-class player playing in their team, but I don’t agree with you about luck running out.
“The disappointment is obviously very strong tonight because we haven’t been able to do it, but I have to commend the players on getting this far.”
Denmark boss Age Hareide saluted one of the “top 10” players in the world after seeing Eriksen inspire the rout.
The Tottenham midfielder plundered at will as the Danes dominated at the Aviva Stadium after being held to a 0-0 draw in Copenhagen.
Eriksen tore Ireland to shreds as they attempted to adopt a more adventurous approach on their own pitch to leave Hareide purring.
Asked if Eriksen could be considered as one of the top 10 players in the world, Hareide said: “Yes, absolutely in the top 10.”
After taking an early lead which sent spirits soaring inside a packed Aviva Stadium, Ireland were put down brutally by Denmark, for whom Eriksen was lethal after an untypical ineffectual display in the first leg.
Cyrus Christie’s unfortunate own goal had cancelled out Shane Duffy’s opener but Eriksen then took over and produced expert finishes either side of half-time and completed his hat-trick with a gleeful 74th-minute strike before substitute Nicklas Bendtner rounded things off with a late penalty.