Mick McCarthy says the Republic of Ireland have no-one to fear in the play-offs after his side fell agonisingly short of automatic Euro 2020 qualification following a draw with Denmark at the Aviva Stadium.
The Irish created plenty of chances with one of their best performances in recent years, but Matt Doherty’s 85th-minute equaliser came too late as they chased the win they needed.
Martin Braithwaite got in behind Doherty to stab home Henrik Dalsgaard’s cross and open the scoring from Denmark’s first shot on target – one of only two they had in the game.
The point means the Republic of Ireland finished third in Group D and will have to hope for success through the play-offs, which take place next March.
They could be drawn against either Bosnia-Herzegovina, Wales or Slovakia, and McCarthy said: “We can beat anyone in the play-offs.
“The players will go back to their clubs and we don’t have a game until March. I’ll be getting round them and reminding them it has been a good campaign and that we can play like that, so why not play like that in March?”
The Irish will rue their finishing against Denmark, with Conor Hourihane missing a glorious chance in the first half.
Doherty’s header from Enda Stevens’ cross set up a thrilling finale in a deafening atmosphere but they could not create that one last chance they needed.
The Irish players collapsed to the ground at the final whistle knowing they had given everything – as their fans gave them a standing ovation despite falling just short in the end.
“I am immensely proud of the players,” McCarthy added on Sky Sports. “They pushed them right to the limit. If my players and my team leave everything on the pitch I will take the result as it comes so I will have to take the defeat.
“You just need that bit of luck. We had opportunities but I am not going to criticise the lads – they have been brilliant. We lost one game out of eight. I’m very proud of them.”
Frustrating night for the Republic
Memories were still fresh of Denmark’s 5-1 demolition of the Irish at this venue back in the 2018 World Cup play-off.
This was nothing like that.
Two years ago Christian Eriksen tore Martin O’Neill’s side to shreds with a hat-trick. But here, McCarthy’s side really had a go, with some quality passing, running and invention.
Had they taken their earlier chances, the outcome might have been very different.
Hourihane should have finished from David McGoldrick’s pass but shot straight at Kasper Schmeichel.
Then McGoldrick headed down to Alan Browne, whose sweet volley was just wide. The lively McGoldrick had a go himself and shot over from distance.
Ciaran Clark, a half-time substitute for the injured John Egan, also headed a couple of chances over the bar.
Encouraging signs
One big plus to come from this is renewed optimism for next year’s play-offs.
Recent dire performances against Switzerland and Georgia had removed a lot of confidence, but this showing was something else.
Sadly their play-off is likely to be away from home and away from their magnificent fans, who cheered their team all the way throughout the game.
The Republic end with only seven goals from eight games – Doherty’s was the fourth header of the campaign.
But if they had played like this before, it would have been a different story entirely.
Man of the match – David McGoldrick (Republic of Ireland)
Unbeaten Danes go through – the stats
- Republic of Ireland are without a win in their last six meetings with Denmark (D5 L1), drawing each of the last four.
- Denmark remain the only undefeated side in Group D (P8 W4 D4 L0) and haven’t lost any of their last 17 European/World Cup qualifying matches (W10 D7).
- The first shot of the game came on 26 minutes, courtesy of an effort from Christian Eriksen, the longest wait for the opening attempt in any Euro 2020 qualifying game so far.
- All seven of the Republic of Ireland’s goals in the Euro 2020 qualifiers have come via different players (incl. one own-goal).
- Martin Braithwaite has scored in three consecutive international matches for Denmark after netting just one goal in total in his eight before that.
- Matt Doherty’s equaliser for Republic of Ireland was the first goal Denmark conceded in 600 minutes of action, ending Kasper Schmeichel’s run of five consecutive clean sheets for his country.
