DANISH PASTING
Martin O’Neill’s World Cup dream dies as Christian Eriksen puts his Irish flops to sword in Dublin
CLASSY Christian Eriksen bagged a hat-trick as deadly Denmark thrashed Ireland to reach next year’s World Cup in Russia.
Shane Duffy nodded Ireland into the lead but the Danes netted twice in the space of three first-half minutes, courtesy of Cyrus Christie’s own goal and Eriksen’s stunning strike.
Eriksen curled in from the edge of the box and then thumped in from inside the area in the second half to secure his treble and seal the tie.
Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner came on with 18 minutes to go and slotted a late penalty after he was brought down in the box.
The Republic let a winning position slip from their grasp as familiar failings returned to haunt Martin O’Neill and his players at the most critical of junctures. Yet again, their inability to protect an early lead came back to haunt them as they dished up two goals on a plate to opponents who were made to look better than they are.
And from there Denmark never looked back as Spurs star Eriksen filleted broken men in 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 in this clash 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.
Eriksen said: “It is an incredible feeling. We have been fighting for so long to get to the World Cup. We are very much looking forward to it.
“It is not often I score any hat-trick so of course it is incredible. The second goal was the most technical one, better than the others.”
What briefly threatened to be a famous night for Ireland unravelled spectacularly.
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 but former Celtic manager 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 unleashed Wes 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.
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 Duffy’s goal had the 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 box with a woeful attempt to clear Robbie Brady’s free-kick.
But while the goal energised the hosts, it changed nothing for the visitors who still had to score – and they wasted no time going for it.
Darren Randolph kept up his sparkling form by denying William Kvist and then Sisto as the Danes cranked up the pressure.
Yet Ireland, at that stage, were giving as good as they got and Daryl Murphy had Kasper Schmeichel at full stretch when prodding Christie’s cross wide of the target.
James McClean then flashed a low shot across the face of goal.
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.
Sisto nutmegged Arter after a short corner and his cross found Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen whose 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 the 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 half time.
Changes in personnel led to a see-saw second half but while the hand-brake was released, Ireland were careering backwards.
And in the space of nine minutes, Eriksen buried two sweet goals midway through the half before Bendtner rubber-stamped a nightmare night for Ireland from the penalty spot.
Denmark boss Age Hareide said: “They played with a diamond and that gave us lots of space and I just say thank you very much.”