Denmark vs Ireland, World Cup Play-Off 1st Leg, kick-off 7.45, RTE 2 & Sky Sports

Mr.Nice Guy

There's not long to go now until the big clash tonight with Denmark, the biggest game we've played since...well, last month.

Both sides know that World Cup qualification is tantalisingly close but the situation is as tense as Roy Keane and Peter Schmeichel running into each other in a hallway, or Martin O'Neill and Tony O'Donoghue.

The historical record provides some encouragement to us ahead of the game. In the last four games with them we have won two and drawn two. Ireland's last visit to Denmark was a 4-0 friendly win in Aarhus. That game was a long time ago, though: 2007; so long ago that Shane Long actually managed to get on the scoresheet twice.

While Ireland are in good spirits after the away win in Wales, Denmark come into the game in great form themselves. They have yet to lose a game in 2017 and managed a 1-1 draw in a friendly with Germany in June, as well as a 4-0 victory over Poland in a September qualifying game.

Their danger man is undoubtedly the Danish Wes Hoolahan, Christian Eriksen, with 8 goals and 3 assists in qualifying. He's scored more goals than any midfielder in the qualification campaign. Their captain Simon Kjaer has been passed fit ahead of the game too.

For ourselves, Hendrick and Ward have been declared fit although not having Meyler due to suspension is a blow. Several Irish players run the risk of missing the second leg if they get booked tonight. James McClean being one of them. Damien Duff thinks management shouldn't tell McClean to calm down tonight as it might neutralise his strength. Not to mention it's about as likely to work as a "Don't push" sign next to a button would deter Father Dougal.

So what do we think the result tonight will be? Would 0-0 constitute a decent outcome or would that leave us sweating in the return game? Just how important is it for us to score tonight?

I have to say I do worry about the Eriksen threat and he's impressed me whenever I've seen him play this season. Wales didn't have the class to unlock our defence but I think Denmark do. I don't see us keeping a clean sheet tonight but I'm optimistic we can grab a goal. I'm going to say a 1-1 draw and hopefully we can then beat them in Dublin.

GreNoLi

I gotta bad feeling about this.

dfx-

They have to score tonight to be honest. 0-0 is not a lot of use.

Mokuba

Come on Ireland!!

tigger123

I take it there's no word on the starting XI yet?

Mushy

This will be backs to the wall defensive performance. Fully expecting a man-marking job on Erikson with a lot of hit and hope. If nick an away goal it'll be he

noodler

Aw the ****ing nerves.

Mushy

tigger123 wrote: »

I take it there's no word on the starting XI yet?

Probably be 6.20 for that. Back 5 picks itself, midfield probably be Whelan, Brady,McLean, arter and Hendrick. Then long up front, maybe Murphy.

Kermit.de.frog

I'm expecting a freeflowing, attack minded, stylish Ireland to take to the field and stun the opposition.

Oh wait. That's the rugby.

BorneTobyWilde

We'll need to use our heads, but mostly our feet.

Rumple Stillson

I'll never forgive them for attacking our monasteries, it's payback time.

alta stare

A 2-0 win imo is a must for us to go through. Hopefully we do it ill even take a 1-0. Come on Ireland.

BorneTobyWilde

It will be the tie of the round, and we'll never have it easy. We always make it tough.
Would be nice to fluke 3 goals and for every little thing to drop kindly to us.

0gac3yjefb5sv7

alta stare wrote: »

A 2-0 win imo is a must for us to go through. Hopefully we do it ill even take a 1-0. Come on Ireland.

Why would we need a 2.0 away. As long as we don't lose 2.0 we have a great chance at home.

limnam

I'd take a scrappy 0-0

Unearthly

alta stare wrote: »

A 2-0 win imo is a must for us to go through. Hopefully we do it ill even take a 1-0. Come on Ireland.

Tonight is the away match, did you think it was the home match? No way we are getting a 2 nil in denmark

alta stare

Pheonix10 wrote: »

Why would we need a 2.0 away. As long as we don't lose 2.0 we have a great chance at home.

Because they will come to Dublin and score. If we have 2 away then its more pressure on them. If we have 1 and they have 1 then imo its still in their favour as they will come to Dublin and score. We need to shut them out tonight and 2 will see us in a way better position than they can handle come Dublin.

alta stare

Unearthly wrote: »

Tonight is the away match, did you think it was the home match? No way we are getting a 2 nil in denmark

Yeah i did i really thought Copenhagen was in Ireland.

Im sure you knew where i was coming from with my post so why the silly question?

Rikand

Mushy wrote: »

man-marking job on Erikson

Could have done with Richie Keogh for this one

sonic85

1-0 to Denmark but in fairness other than Eriksen they are in no way brilliant so I think if we go and play positively there's a decent result there for the taking.

Unearthly

alta stare wrote: »

Yeah i did i really thought Copenhagen was in Ireland.

Im sure you knew where i was coming from with my post so why the silly question?

Because it's silly to say 2 nil is the result needed in the away leg

johnpatrick81

Repeat of the last game against Wales please!

alta stare

Unearthly wrote: »

Because it's silly to say 2 nil is the result needed in the away leg

No it isnt. Are you seriously telling me 1-0 will be enough????

Rumple Stillson

alta stare wrote: »

No it isnt. Are you seriously telling me 1-0 will be enough????

I think this hole of yours is getting awfully deep...

Unearthly

alta stare wrote: »

No it isnt. Are you seriously telling me 1-0 will be enough????

1 nil tonight would be an amazing result. We could well feck the 2nd leg up but you are living in cloud cuckoo land if you are turning your nose up at 1 nil

brianregan09

There about the same as Wales one world class player and the rest of them are handy , We do absolutely need to get a result tonight because I believe we're set up a lot better to play away from home we'll stuggle at home I think

BorneTobyWilde

xtal191

We'll win this 2-1

alta stare

Rumple Stillson wrote: »

I think this hole of yours is getting awfully deep...

Is it? I asked a simple question.

rmchmufc

1-1

ebbsy

Should be going out to win this.

Chancer3001

Lol @ we need to win 2 0.

A 1 0 will have the entire country in meltdown celebrating .

A 0 0 is bloody fantastic.

A 2 1 defeat is not the worst. Much better than a 1 0 defeat

Liamalone

2-11 to 1-09

alta stare

Unearthly wrote: »

1 nil tonight would be an amazing result. We could well feck the 2nd leg up but you are living in cloud cuckoo land if you are turning your nose up at 1 nil

Amazing? Really????? Why????? Given how we are at home it is a dangerous scoreline for us.

Unearthly

alta stare wrote: »

Amazing? Really????? Why????? Given how we are at home it is a dangerous scoreline for us.

I get it now, you're having a laugh. You got me

alta stare

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Lol @ we need to win 2 0.

A 1 0 will have the entire country in meltdown celebrating .

A 0 0 is bloody fantastic.

A 2 1 defeat is not the worst. Much better than a 1 0 defeat

1-0 will have us in meltdown? Jesus talk about over exaggerating.

Did i say we would win 2-0 no i said to go through we would need to win 2-0.

pjohnson

Well it didnt take long to hit sh*t in the thread.

The feckin Line-ups havent even been announced yet :pac:

DJIMI TRARORE

Gonna be a tight tough 90mins for both sets of fans,1_1,0_0,or 1_0 either way is my prediction

Benimar

alta stare wrote: »

No it isnt. Are you seriously telling me 1-0 will be enough????

Maybe, maybe not. 2-0 mightn’t be enough either, but a 2-1 defeat might end up being ‘enough’ depending on Tuesday.

Like others I’d snap your hand off for a 1-0 win but if you believe we ‘need’ to win by 2 tonight, I think that’s a bit mad!

Denmark might (probably will) score in Dublin, but Ireland are allowed to score at home too, you know? Any win or a score draw tonight would be a great result.

alta stare

Unearthly wrote: »

I get it now, you're having a laugh. You got me

I suppose we shall see tuesday who was right or wrong. We dont play well in Dublin we play well away and its tonight that this away form must really stay strong and a 2-0 win is what will put us through. Dublin on tuesday will not happen for us if we dont try and put them to the sword tonight.

Mr.Crinklewood

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

Hate that ****

pjohnson

0gac3yjefb5sv7

alta stare wrote: »

Amazing? Really????? Why????? Given how we are at home it is a dangerous scoreline for us.

We are playing away tonight.

spock.

Brave move by O'Neill to start O'Dowda and not Whelan. Hope it works out.

irishman86

alta stare wrote: »

Because they will come to Dublin and score. If we have 2 away then its more pressure on them. If we have 1 and they have 1 then imo its still in their favour as they will come to Dublin and score. We need to shut them out tonight and 2 will see us in a way better position than they can handle come Dublin.

Using that logic i want a 10 nil win. That way they need 11 goals :pac:

KaiserGunner

brianregan09 wrote: »

There about the same as Wales one world class player and the rest of them are handy , We do absolutely need to get a result tonight because I believe we're set up a lot better to play away from home we'll stuggle at home I think

Who’s the world class player? Nicklas Bendtner?

pjohnson

KaiserGunner wrote: »

Who’s the world class player? Nicklas Bendtner?

Christian Eriksen

johnpatrick81

Shocked by the attacking nature of the team we’ve picked!

KaiserGunner

pjohnson wrote: »

Christian Eriksen

Good player, but hardly world class. Anyway, scoring a goal tonight is vital as I think the Danes will score on Tuesday. It’s all about the result over the two legs, performances and style don’t matter a hoot.

Trigger

pjohnson wrote: »

Christian Eriksen

You will never convince an Arsenal fan that any Spurs player is World Class

pjohnson

johnpatrick81 wrote: »

Shocked by the attacking nature of the team we’ve picked!

4-2-3-1?

Hendrick Arter

O'Dowda Brady McClean

Murphy