Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
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Kick off for the games is at 7.45pm.
We’ll have the team news once we get it.
If you’re not already ridiculously excited for tonight, this video should do the trick…
We've had our backs against the wall before. But we've raged... raged against the dying of the light #IRLDEN #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/djC9eJW2Lo
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 14, 2017
Here’s the Ireland team. Just one change from the first leg, as David Meyler comes in for Callum O’Dowda…
BREAKING: One change for Ireland with David Meyler returning to captain the team as Martin O'Neill names his team to face Denmark! #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/HnqZXIHuJt
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) November 14, 2017
The subs have been confirmed…
Ireland Subs: Westwood (GK), Doyle (GK), O'Shea, McShane, Whelan, McGeady, S. Long, O'Dowda, Hoolahan, Hourihane, Hogan, K. Long. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/SKvHs0td5e
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) November 14, 2017
Some pre-match reading for you…
- ‘This is stuff you dream of as a kid. Everybody wants to play at a World Cup and we’re 90 minutes away’
- Can Ireland silence Danish critics and more talking points
- ‘He doesn’t know the players’ – Denmark hit back at David Meyler comments
- Do you agree with our Ireland starting XI to face Denmark?
- ‘Ireland just want us to make a mistake… I haven’t got the patience to play like that’
- Ireland all set for the very real prospect of penalty shootout drama tomorrow night
- The Irishman who was ‘better than George Best’ and other little-known stories
- O’Neill executes with a game plan – Hoolahan could be the missing piece of the puzzle
- ‘It reminded me of the old days in League Two’: Schmeichel unimpressed with Copenhagen pitch
- ‘In terms of quality, expectations have reached a new low during this campaign’
- He’s admitted he can’t buy a goal right now, but Shane Long needs to start for Ireland
- ‘It wasn’t pretty’ – Here’s how the Danish media reacted to last night’s World Cup play-off
- ‘It was like a freight train came and hit us and we really didn’t see it coming’
- After years in the footballing wilderness, Ireland’s hero last night is finally getting due recognition
- ‘We might have to score two… we’ll have to show a bit more creativity’
- Bendtner: Maybe we thought Ireland would attack more instead of just kicking the ball away
- ‘It takes courage to get on the ball and play the way Hoolahan plays’
Confirmation of the two teams…
Ireland v Denmark team sheet.#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/ZWIMe7UJy3
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) November 14, 2017
'It's now what we do in the next two hours' - Martin O'Neill speaks to @Corktod ahead of kick-off #IRLDEN #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/Lq8jyiDQ3l
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 14, 2017
Dunphy and the lads are not overly enthused about the team selection…
'A conservative team selection' - Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady run the rule over the Ireland side chosen by Martin O'Neill #IRLDEN #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/ktJQJrwsbJ
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 14, 2017
Sean Maguire is here…
Sisto threatens to break, but Arter makes a good challenge to stop him.
It’s been a lively, fast-paced opening.
IRELAND 1-0 DENMARK (DUFFY 6)
Denmark fail to deal with Robbie Brady’s free kick and Duffy heads home.
Great start by Ireland!
Ireland have struggled to hold onto an early lead in this position before, away to both Serbia and Georgia among other occasions.
It will be interesting to see how they respond to this situation.
Chance for Denmark!
Kjaer finds Larsen with a long ball, but the defender fails to make proper contact with it.
Christie was caught sleeping there.
Meyler and McClean both try to clear the ball at once and get in each other’s way.
There is a touch of nervousness about the Irish team at the moment.
Great save from Randolph!
Kvist’s shot is deflected, but the goalkeeper gets down well to save.
Eriksen plays Sisto in. His shot forces another decent save from Randolph.
Denmark are finding plenty of joy down Ireland’s right-hand side.
McClean finds Murphy in the box, but he can’t sort is feet out and Denmark clear.
Better from Ireland.
Great ball in by Christie to Murphy, who gets across the defender but flicks it just wide.
This has been a thoroughly entertaining opening 20 minutes.
Brady plays through McClean, who fires just wide from a tight angle.
Ireland are playing with much more of a threat in this second leg.
Sisto’s shot deflects over the bar for a corner.
Denmark continue to dominate possession and territory.
IRELAND 1-1 DENMARK (CHRISTIE OWN GOAL 29)
Sisto beats Harry Arter down the left.
His cross is directed towards goal by Christensen, whose effort hits the post, but the rebound deflects in off Christie.
IRELAND 1-2 DENMARK (ERIKSEN 32)
Ward loses the ball on the halfway, allowing Denmark to counter.
The ball finds its way to Eriksen, who curls the ball home beautifully.
All of a sudden, Ireland need two goals.
The last time Ireland scored three in a competitive match was away to Moldova over a year ago.
They’re going to have to do likewise tonight or else they won’t be going to Russia this summer.
Clark boots the ball straight out of play and McClean is clearly not happy with him.
There is an element of desperation about Ireland’s play right now.
McClean goes down in the box under a challenge from Christensen, but the ref waves play on.
It would have been a very soft penalty.
Ireland haven’t showed much composure on the ball since the second Denmark goal.
Brady has just hit a cross into the side-netting in a promising position.
Ireland seem to be effectively playing with two strikers now.
McClean and Murphy are up front.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 1-2 DENMARK
Half-time and World Cup qualification is looking a tall order for Ireland now.
They need two goals in 45 minutes at the Aviva or else they can book their summer holidays for somewhere other than Russia.
It’s been a poor first half by the hosts and in many ways, scoring early was not beneficial.
The Duffy header only encouraged Ireland to sit back and readily boot the ball away.
Denmark were invited on and they took full advantage, brilliantly opening Ireland up on two occasions.
Ireland could have scored again, with Murphy flicking a good chance just wide and McClean also firing just to the wrong side of the post, but overall the Danes have been the superior team.
Could we see Hoolahan and Long in this second half?
Brady and Hendrick wipped. Wes and longer on. Go for it. Don't go out with whimper.
— Ger O'Brien (@gerramia) November 14, 2017
The second half has begun…
McGeady gets the ball in a promising area but fails to beat his man.
Ireland at least appear to be playing with more pace and purpose now.
Clark makes a good interception from Eriksen’s dangerous cross.
Ireland will inevitably be more open now that they need to take risks.
Sisto’s fizzes a shot well wide.
Denmark have controlled this second half so far.
Sisto shoots from distance and Randolph parries it away for a corner.
Denmark are being given so much space to play.
Chance for Ireland!
Duffy gets on the end of Brady’s corner, but the header is straight at Schmeichel.
Denmark break and Ireland are wide open.
Eriksen sprints through, but his shot is saved by Randolph.
Christie beats his man, but Schmeichel saves his shot.
It’s end-to-end stuff right now.
Poulsen is down after a collision with Ward.
Finally we have a chance to catch our breath, after a crazy few minutes.
Christie wins a free kick. He’s been a threat down the right this second half.
As I type, Brady’s delivery goes straight into Schmeichel’s hands.
IRELAND 1-3 DENMARK (ERIKSEN 63)
That’s game over, I’m afraid.
Ireland give Eriksen too much time on the edge of the box and he curls the ball home.
McClean heads Ward’s cross over the bar.
At least Ireland are still trying to play anyway.
There’s is a real desperation about Ireland’s play now.
There have been countless misplaced passes in recent minutes.
Meanwhile, Denmark make another change, as Poulsen is replaced by Cornelius.
Ciaran Clark replaces Shane Long.
Looks like Jeff Hendrick is playing centre-back now.
Still not much in the way of creativity from Ireland despite Hoolahan and McGeady’s presence.
It’s mainly been hopeful long balls up to Murphy.
IRELAND 1-4 DENMARK (ERIKSEN 74)
It’s a dreadful goal for Ireland to concede.
Ward, who is in as a makeshift centre-back, unwittingly lays the ball off to Eriksen as he fails to control it, and the Tottenham star hammers the ball home from the edge of the area for the hat-trick.
The life has completely gone out of the Aviva Stadium now.
The crowd know that the game is all over.
Ireland almost score a consolation.
Hoolahan plays through Long, who lifts it over Schmeichel but it goes just over the net.
Eriksen escapes on the counter, but Duffy makes the interception and concedes the corner.
The Tottenham man has well and truly justified the pre-match hype tonight.
It feels like watching a training game now.
Both sets of players look shattered and aren’t really tracking back with the same intensity as in the first half.
McClean bursts forward but then blasts the ball well over.
Ireland have been pretty toothless going forward.
Ireland, to their credit, are still piling forward.
They just don’t look good enough to score sadly.
This game is being played at walking pace now.
Ireland could do with the final whistle now.
DENMARK 5-1 IRELAND (BENDTNER 90)
Bendtner sends Randolph the wrong way to make it five from the spot.
It came after a clumsy foul from McClean on Bendtner from behind in the box.
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 1-5 DENMARK
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Giroud celebrating a late equaliser to a minnow like they won the league again. Stop wasting time and take the ball out of the net and run back to the centre circle ya big eejit. Shows the arsenal state of mind and expectations these days.
@Brian: awaiting jordo to respond..
“f*ck off ur talkin Sh*t, Arsenil iz de best 2k17″ while calling you are barstooler, the Irony is lost on him.
@Jigz: anytime spurs drop points you are no where to be seen on this you gobshi*e
@Brian: he did the exact same thing last year when he equalised against Bournemouth in the 4-4. About 3 minutes left, Bournemouth rattled and he runs off to do his scorpion celebration. Rage enducing
Lacashit doing what he does best again today. Nothing.
@FPL Thommo: still better than flopkaku
@Jordo: How so?
@Dave Murray: same amount of league goals, and it’s Lacazette’s first season in the prem. Lacazette’s movement and all round play is better than lukakus in my opinion
@David Mc Nally: your talking absolute shi**
Lads no point cant argue with the resident 42,ie village idiot. More chance of getting a better debate from a wooden plank.
@Jordo: so are you !
@Jigz: stick to American football you cun*
@Jordo: bit salty pal?
@FPL Thommo: not salty at all. You’ve been proved wrong as per usual. Stick to the fantasy
@FPL Thommo: c’mon, you know by now, as long as you say nice pleasant things about Arsenal, you’ll be fine with him…
@FPL Thommo: 2 assists for flopkaku for city’s goals so far
Terrible result but st Mary’s has always been our bogey ground. How Wenger didn’t go 4-3-3 from the start with Wilshere in midfield is beyond me. Can’t believe Mertesacker started
I was reading recently that if you count accumalatively the goals/minutes ratio in Europe’s major leagues, Giroud runs away with it.
Like light years ahead of the even the Ronaldos, Lewandoskis, Suarezs, Messi, etc. Something like a goal an hour or something.
@Havid Dickey: I forgot to add it was accmalatively over the past 5 years.
There’s some big games today, why waste article space on this?
2-0 down after 10 minutes to united. 10 training sessions later and Arsenal go 1-0 down after 3 minutes. Defence terrible again. Bellerin terrible. Alexis terrible again, he’s now given the ball away SIXTY SIX times in the last 2 games and doesn’t want to be there but Wenger won’t drop him and blames time wasting for another poor performance. If city beat united today arsenal will be closer to the bottom of the table than the top. But hey careful what you wish for, there’s no manager in the world better than Wenger…
@Tom49: Alexis was poor again but no one is giving him credit for his cross to Giroud
@Jordo: with the talent Sanchez has, it’s what you expect to be honest.
@Jordo: doesn’t make up for his crap performances. Arsenal need to flog him in January and play someone who is interested. I don’t know what your stance is on the manager but I doubt we’ll even get Europe next season. I hope the changes behind the scenes are the start off the end for Wenger. Need new ideas and new blood badly
@Tom49: Wenger since last season. How Wilshere didn’t start today with 4–3-3 is beyond me
@Jordo: out*
Lookin forward to shearers view on this
Don’t know what all the talk is about vandyke thought he was very poor, especially for the goal.
@Martin McKenna: Van dijk*
@Jordo: sad
The Arsenal were robbed. Southampton with their anti football and kicking lumps out of Laca & Sanchez. Why are refs such bottle jobs against us Goons?? Frustrating.
@Whatshisname: stop going on about the refs. Wenger’s team selections is the problem
@Whatshisname: but we should’ve had a penalty