– Paul Dollery reports from Parken Stadium, Copenhagen
AFTER ENDURING A frustrating evening as his side were held to a 0-0 draw by Ireland in Copenhagen, Denmark manager Age Hareide was irked by a question from an Irish reporter in his post-match press conference.
With a typically defensive approach, Ireland managed to keep a clean sheet after a dour 90 minutes at the Parken Stadium. The tie is now delicately poised ahead of Tuesday night’s second leg at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
When it was put to Hareide afterwards that the game was a poor advertisement for international football, the Danish boss delivered an exasperated response.
“I don’t know what you expect from international football,” said Hareide. “What’s the problem? You can say what you want. I wouldn’t say that. No, I don’t think it was a poor game. We created chances.”
He added: “We had the ball, 65%. We played well enough to win. If we play like this in Dublin we’ll win. You can say what you want about football, that’s your choice. Fine, fine fine. I have my opinion, okay?”
Denmark dominated possession tonight, with Jens Stryger Larsen, Andreas Cornelius, Christian Eriksen and Yussuf Poulsen all forcing Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph to make good saves, while Pione Sisto also narrowly missed the target with a close-range rebound.
Nevertheless, this 2018 World Cup play-off hangs in the balance as it makes its way to Dublin in 72 hours.
Hareide said: “We knew that Ireland were going to be hard to break down. When you don’t take the chances, they survive. But as I said before, 0-0 at home is not a bad result.
“A goal away will be very vital for us because then Ireland have to score two and they don’t score two goals many times.”
Game over, Ireland 2-0!!!!
He could be right ,can’t see Ireland getting two goals but can see Denmark scoring
After watching tonight, I now see why a big club doesn’t come in for
Eriksen.
@GARFARKLE: a big club will come in for eriksen. Very possibly a Barca or real. Think your assessment of him was very unfair. He was technically miles ahead of anyone else on the pitch tonight. I thought he created a lot for other Danish player who squandered chances . Bale, alaba, tadic didn’t do any better against us over the past 12 months
@Bill Clay: Thank you for that reply. I thought he came and went out of the game too much. With his rep, I was expecting him to boss the game , but he didn’t.
@GARFARKLE: in fairness he is at a big club..1 of the best in europe..he is in team that are in last 16 of champions league
.what makes a top team?? Defo not PL standards anyway?
@GARFARKLE: I can also see how you never made it as a sports journalist
@GARFARKLE: he is at a big club.
@Mike Flannery: Other than snide comments, you generally don’t contribute anything of any interest to any debate on this site.
@AM: spurs are not a big club …
The way a few Danish players and their not so danish coach are talking; you would swear they were 1970’s Brazil – their arrogance and entitlement is incredible.
Just stick their quotes on the dressing room door – team talk half done
The only way I see us going through on Tuesday is winning 2-1 from coming from 1 behind. Think Denmark will Nick a goal Tuesday
It’s a bit rich an Irish journalist asking him about the quality of the Danes football isn’t it?
Shite