Advertisement
Ireland fans Mick Buckley from Cork, Mark McKenna from Tipperary and Stephen O'Callaghan from Kerry in Copenhagen. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Letter from Copenhagen: After a 15-year wait, Ireland's time for World Cup return beckons

Ben Blake is in the Danish capital, where travelling fans are on the hunt for tickets and paying over-the-odds for pints.

- Ben Blake reports from Copenhagen

WHEN IRELANDโ€™S YOUTHFUL winger Callum Oโ€™Dowda was asked this week for his earliest memory of the World Cup, the reply he gave was far from satisfactory for those present.

โ€œIโ€™d probably say the one in South Africa,โ€ the 22-year-old and youngest member of the current squad answered, after a brief pause.

โ€œI remember coming home from school and watching the games.โ€

Left a little bewildered by news that a current player has no recollection of the countryโ€™s last appearance at a finals (or even the tournament four years on in Germany, for that matter), Oโ€™Dowdaโ€™s admission suddenly drove home just how long it has been since our nation last reached the holy grail of international football.

While qualification to the two most recent European championships has allowed Irish fans a return to the big stage โ€” where they feel they belong โ€” three unsuccessful World Cup qualification campaigns on the trot mean younger supporters are still waiting to experience the euphoric scenes witnessed in 1990, 1994 or 2002.

Now, 15 years on from an eventful summer in South Korea & Japan, opportunity raises its head once again for the Boys in Green. Granted, weโ€™ve been here before and fallen at the final hurdle more times than weโ€™ve scaled it but this can be different.

Denmark was the draw Ireland had hoped for and while the task wonโ€™t be easy, itโ€™s certainly achievable.

There was a friendly tone to the Denmark pre-match press conference yesterday as their affable Norwich manager Age Hareide told stories of the days when he was Martin Oโ€™Neillโ€™s lodger during their time playing together with Norwich City.

The two players sitting alongside him, Kasper Schmeichel and danger man Christian Eriksen, spoke respectfully about their latest opponents in perfect English, while Hareide rightly stated his old team-mateโ€™s gameplan would be โ€œeasy to read but difficult to beatโ€.

Irelandโ€™s style of play may be predictable, but world champions Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy, Austria and Wales werenโ€™t able to nullify it despite knowing well what to expect in recent times.

They can try,โ€ was Robbie Bradyโ€™s answer after it was put to him whether the Danish players would be able to break Irelandโ€™s strong team spirit. โ€œBut weโ€™ll see tomorrow night. Weโ€™re ready, weโ€™ve done our homework and weโ€™re prepared.โ€

Oโ€™Neillโ€™s pre-match preparations have actually come into question of late with ex-Ireland number one Shay Given admitting to Richie Sadlier on Second Captains last week that they will have done little on their own shape or how best to play against Denmarkโ€™s system in the build-up.

Defender Shane Duffy โ€” a colossus at the back for club and country this season โ€” also spoke about how few instructions his fellow Derry man gives before a match, during a recent interview with Jonathan Liew in the Independent.

โ€œHe doesnโ€™t really say much,โ€ Duffy replied, when asked what was said in the dressing room prior to last monthโ€™s win over Wales in Cardiff.

โ€œHe [O'Neill] kept mentioning how big the World Cup was. โ€˜If you donโ€™t realise how big the World Cup is, youโ€™re in the wrong sport, and youโ€™re one game away from a chance to go there.โ€™

โ€œHe kept mentioning that, and everyone got on board. I think we wanted it a little bit more than they did on the night.โ€

In an age when managers like Tottenhamโ€™s Mauricio Pochettino insist on controlling every little detail right down to the brand of detergent used on his squadโ€™s kits, it seems an extremely old school approach. But the results speak for themselves.

Republic of Ireland Training Session and Press Conference - Parken Stadium Ireland training at Parken Stadium, where the roof will be closed over until this afternoon. Tim Goode Tim Goode

As the legions of Ireland supporters flooded into Copenhagen over the past two days โ€” with an estimated total of around 8,000 expected to arrive โ€” the hunt for tickets for tonightโ€™s first leg has been hotting up.

Parken Stadium, which resembles a block of offices from the outside, sits on the edge of a common in the Indre Osterbro district known as Faelledparken.

The home of FC Copenhagen holds a capacity of 38,000, but only 2,305 tickets have been officially allocated to visiting fans and the Danish football association (DBU) officials have warned Ireland fans against attempting to purchase tickets in the home section.

There have even been stories of tickets being cancelled if it is suspected that the holder is Irish, with the DBU instructing the buyer to confirm their birthplace and address otherwise the booking will be revoked with no refund given.

Next highest on the priority list of travelling fans this weekend has been the mission to find a reasonably-priced pint in the notoriously expensive Scandinavian city. While some told tales of parting company with the equivalent of โ‚ฌ11, a couple of the Irish bars have generously been serving drinks at a discounted โ‚ฌ4.50.

Alternatively, you can purchase a six-pack of Tuborgโ€™s Julebryg for just 65 krone (โ‚ฌ8.70) in the local corner shop. The Christmas beer, โ€œa bottom-fermented wiener beer brewed on lager, mรผnchener, caramel malt, and added English liquoriceโ€, even has its own holiday known as โ€˜J-dayโ€™ โ€” celebrated across Denmark on the first Friday of November. A week too early for us, sadly.

This time of the year has been significant in Oโ€™Neillโ€™s Ireland career too. He and his management team celebrated four years in the job last week, while Robbie Bradyโ€™s goal in the fog of Zenica will be two years ago this Monday.

Letโ€™s add one more anniversary to that list tonight.

Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:

People will be cursing our luck that Glenn Whelan is coming in but heโ€™s done a job for us beforeโ€™

How will Denmark set up against Ireland in tomorrowโ€™s World Cup play-off?

Close
5 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciarรกn
    Favourite Ciarรกn
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 7:49 PM

    Cos we got Salahโ€ฆ Oh mane mane!!

    111
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin Finnega
    Favourite Eoin Finnega
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 10:06 PM

    @Ciarรกn: For now you have Salah.

    The only debate is which big club he will go to in the summer, like every other player that shows some ability at Liverpool.
    Itโ€™s ok though, iv made a song for his replacement:
    Weโ€™ve got Boufal, MAYBE Mane, no one wants Firmino.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry Peyton
    Favourite Gerry Peyton
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 10:18 PM

    @Eoin Finnega: jaysus thatโ€™s a shite song.

    69
    See 1 more reply โ–พ
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciarรกn
    Favourite Ciarรกn
    Report
    Mar 4th 2018, 12:36 PM

    @Eoin Finnega: I dont care if he goes or not Im enjoying the moment, Try it!! My support is not built around idolising footballers.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Doyle
    Favourite James Doyle
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 7:55 PM

    Two games in a row now Karius has made great saves to keep LFC ahead. Those of us who had seen something in him to recommend are feeling pretty good about nowโ€ฆ Letโ€™s hope he keeps it up, because heโ€™s slowly winning the remaining doubters over.

    96
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Snow
    Favourite Declan Snow
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 8:02 PM

    @James Doyle: I imagine Klopp has told him to put in the performances til the end of the season to make him not have to sign another keeper. Literally playing for his anfield career

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciarรกn
    Favourite Ciarรกn
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 8:09 PM

    @Declan Snow: He told him he was number one and he wanted him to prove he made the right choice.

    33
    See 4 more replies โ–พ
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Doyle
    Favourite James Doyle
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 8:18 PM

    @Declan Snow: think myself playing behind VvD has made all the difference. From his debut, Van Dijk has been encouraging Karius to make the area his own. For a young goalie, that must make a huge difference, having a centre half who talks to you and trusts you to take care of things behind him. Heโ€™s always had talent, but he just looks more at home now.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Snow
    Favourite Declan Snow
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 9:16 PM

    @James Doyle: Ye he certainly looks more confident. When we signed him he was apparently the 2nd best keeper in Germany. Having a big talker infront of him has to help. He just needs to come off his line a bit quicker and be more decisive around that and heโ€™ll be there or there abouts a top keeper.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute PJ Connolly
    Favourite PJ Connolly
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 9:21 PM

    @James Doyle: high opinion of yourself there James if you think itโ€˜s you playing behind VvD thatโ€˜s the difference. Iโ€˜ve never even noticed you on the pitch.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Doyle
    Favourite James Doyle
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 10:22 PM

    @PJ Connolly: hur hur. But as the sort of guy who delights in pointing out similar errors in others, I have to give you kudos. Smart assery is always welcome.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan
    Favourite Aidan
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 8:08 PM

    Exciting times at Liverpool would love see klopp and Liverpool win the league next season. Still Have great chance in champions league

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jordo
    Favourite Jordo
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 7:58 PM

    Salah for top goalscorer

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ollie Watson
    Favourite Ollie Watson
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 10:10 PM

    @Jordo: Kane will nick it luckily

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Laura Walsh
    Favourite Laura Walsh
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 9:02 PM

    Itโ€™s such a strange feeling as a Liverpool fan to see our keeper make a save like that (Karius has quietly been excellent for weeks now). Weโ€™ve been so used to having a poor standard of keeper for a long time now. Van Dijk is an incredible addition to the squad and I wonโ€™t hear otherwise, and with Karius stepping up, Liverpool have really really steadied the ship at the back. A few more midfield additions and we are so, so close.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hardly Normal
    Favourite Hardly Normal
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 9:36 PM

    @Laura Walsh: what about the ox, heโ€™s coming into his own in a big way too the last few games. He has a fair few assists now too!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Laura Walsh
    Favourite Laura Walsh
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 10:02 PM

    @Hardly Normal: absolutely love Ox. Just one of those lads that you really want to do well cause he seems so sound. So happy heโ€™s playing well! Say heโ€™s delighted he left the sinking ship.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liverbird
    Favourite Liverbird
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 8:16 PM

    Good win.great save by Karius in 1st half.onwards and upwards.Salah is a legend.Goes to show how well liverpool are playing when theres a slight sense of dissapointment when they only win by 2.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute England's Envy
    Favourite England's Envy
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 8:49 PM

    Salah top scorer shhhhh. This team is on route to becoming one of Liverpools greatest. Y.N.W.A.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Pocock
    Favourite Conor Pocock
    Report
    Mar 4th 2018, 8:19 AM

    @Englandโ€™s Envy: huge similarities between your posts and the Anto Whelan pretend Dub troll.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scott Crossfield
    Favourite Scott Crossfield
    Report
    Mar 3rd 2018, 8:52 PM

    Class again top 4 in the bag now finish 2nd and get a run in Europe

    16
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel