IRISH STILL PLAN TO WIN UGLY
COME June 14 and the first ball kicked of Russia 2018, not a soul will remember or even care about the aesthetics of qualification. It was, however, the only topic of conversation in Copenhagen on Saturday night. Ireland were ugly. They had spoilt the spectacle. The Danish boos, said striker Nicklas Bendtner, were not for the home team, but for the entertainment. ‘F****** . . . ,’ he started, before checking himself. ‘It wasn’t an exciting match.’ Shane Duffy, the impassable Ireland defender, had the perfect riposte. ‘This is a World Cup we’re going for, it doesn’t matter how we get through, as l long as we d do,’ ’ said id the th Brighton B i ht centre back. Duffy is right. Ireland have been unsightly since their draw in the campaign opener in Serbia. As fourth seeds in the group, they have had to be. That is why they are now here — one home victory away from their first World Cup in 16 years. Denmark were not good enough to beat Ireland. Simple. Christian Eriksen? Anonymous. Yes, visiting goalkeeper lk Darren D Randolph R made three fine saves and every Dane who emerged to reflect made reference to that. But the idea is to beat the keeper, not bemoan his presence. Denmark boss Age Hareide believes there will be more space for his players in Dublin tomorrow. He is wrong. ‘The game plan will be the same,’ said Duffy. ‘You can’t go guns blazing and lose the match early on.’ Denmark will have to be as creative as Bendtner’s attire to break down Martin O’Neill’s stubborn side. Afterwards, the former Arsenal man wore a navy suit, silver trainers and a black cap, flipped backwards. He still sees Denmark as favourites. ‘If both teams score we are going through,’ he said. Eriksen agreed. ‘We will have our chance in Dublin, I’m really confident,’ said the Spurs man. The pressure is on Eriksen to perform and he knows it. ‘I will try to take my chances. I tried that here but the last pass wasn’t good enough.’