Sounds crazy enough, until you picture just how you would manage it yourself.
Ireland’s fans came to Copenhagen to party. Their football team came to ruin it.
By the time full-time arrived, the Danish fans had long stopped singing and cheering. The travelling support lapped up the 0-0 draw but their heroes walked off with shoulders proud and eyes glazed; giving nothing away.
It had been a theme all night.
Cyrus Christie had the best Irish chance on the night but Martin O’Neill was ultimately grateful to goalkeeper Darren Randolph and a shocking miss by Pione Sisto as the game ended in stalemate. Ireland know they can advance to their first World Cup in 16 years if they beat the Danes in Dublin on Tuesday.
Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney reminded us all that his side can go through on away goals so a 1-1 or 2-2 draw [etc.] could leave them celebrating. Delaney also produced one of the greatest quotes imaginable about the Irish team, and it has certainly summed our football up over the past three decades.
“We can draw 1-1 against Ireland, and then we are on,”Delaney told Tipsbladet:
“So that’s okay but it was a hard fight, as [we] expected and feared. We tried and tried, but it was a bit like opening a can of baked beans with your bare hands… it takes time.
“I would like to see that we had put one [chance] in, in the first half. We had chances, but it’s not an easy team to meet. I expect and hope they try a little more in Dublin, and then we can get a little more space.”
Chance would be a fine thing, Thomas.
David Meyler should come back into the team – possibly at the expense of Callum O’Dowda, with Robbie Brady pushed wide – but, in Dublin, the Danes will meet an Irish team as obstinate and awkward as they were in Copenhagen.
This team may well be a can of beans but they are the Finest Beans in Ireland…
