Denmark have named an initial 20-man squad for their final Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and the Republic of Ireland.

Rather than feeling bullish about another Dublin cake-walk next month, Denmark manager Åge Hareide is convinced Mick McCarthy will have Ireland better prepared than his predecessor Martin O’Neill.

At least the phoney war is over, the fable of Mick McCarthy clothed in Merlin the Magician garb belatedly binned.

For a country synonymous with watches, Switzerland’s team have developed an unusual aversion to sticking by the clock.

Denmark captain Simon Kjaer says they won’t wallow in despair at dropping points against Ireland on Friday night because they’re confident of winning the return Euro qualifier.

It was just of 5pm local time, four hours before kick-off, when an open-topped party bus stopped in traffic outside the Ireland team’s hotel in the centre of Copenhagen.

Ireland being paired once again with Denmark and Georgia in the Euro 2020 draw in Dublin in December might have induced an unwelcome sense of déjà vu but it also made Group D into something akin to a useful laboratory experiment, offering a convenient then-and-now contrast to help us better determine the state of the Irish game in 2019.

Denmark defender Mathias Jorgensen has seen enough of Ireland in the past 20 months to believe not even Mick McCarthy can extinguish their defensive instincts.

If there can be such a thing as an upside for Mick McCarthy in seeing four players succumb to friendly fire on the training pitch — Shane Long having now followed Alan Browne, Mark Travers and Luca Connell out of the squad since preparations for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Denmark and Gibraltar began on the Algarve — it’s that none would have been likely to start in Copenhagen on Friday night.

Denmark manager Age Hareide admitted he went from hell to heaven as his team mounted a staggering late comeback in Basel to extract a point off Switzerland in the battle of Group D’s top seeds.

Age Hareide believes that Ireland’s decline since the high of the Euro 2016 finals is a lesson which should not be lost on his in-form Danish team.

Almost five years into his reign, at a cost of €10m in wages, Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane are, apparently, laying building blocks for the Ireland squad.

Denmark boss Age Hareide has warned the Republic of Ireland not to be fooled by Christian Eriksen’s absence as they attempt to rekindle their Nations League campaign.

Where to begin with an overview of the state of the Danish national team before the Nations League match in Dublin today?

Denmark coach Age Hareide’s withering assessment of opponents France last month has added “salt, pepper and vinegar” to their World Cup match today, his counterpart Didier Deschamps said.

If Donald Trump is said to fear walking down steps, my phobia was ‘going upstairs’.

Age Hareide must have made for a challenging tenant.

Sometimes a weather forecast actually turns out to be correct. And sometimes a preview of a game of football really does predict what will eventually happen. 

Danish defender Andreas Bjelland has promised that the visitors will not lack for fight if tomorrow's World Cup play-off second leg against the Republic of Ireland boils down to the final minutes or extra-time, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Martin O’Neill has warned his players that they may have to score twice to beat Denmark to a place at the World Cup finals in Russia.

If they beat us to go to the World Cup, we’ll cry for six months, writes Enda McEvoy

Martin O'Neill has warned the Republic of Ireland they may have to score twice to beat Denmark to a place at the World Cup finals in Russia.

Martin O'Neill is backing his Republic of Ireland players' "inner self-belief" to see them through their World Cup qualifying showdown with Denmark.

Danish manager Age Hareide was asked to expand yesterday on what he meant when he said recently that Ireland are easy to read but difficult to resist. 

It was the greatest night for at least five years, the night that marked a turning point for the Danish national team.

Kasper Schmeichel is expecting the Republic of Ireland to play in Roy Keane’s image as they attempt to edge past Denmark and reach the World Cup finals.

Kasper Schmeichel is expecting the Republic of Ireland to play in Roy Keane’s image as they attempt to edge past Denmark and reach the World Cup finals.

The Republic of Ireland squad launch their latest bid for play-off glory on Saturday evening when they face Denmark in Copenhagen with a place at next summer’s World Cup finals at stake.

Peter Schmeichel all but scoffs when asked how the current Ireland and Denmark squads compare to his day when the teams drew twice in the qualifying rounds for the 1994 World Cup.

‘To the left, to the right, he’s our midfield dynamite,’ goes the song Spurs fans sing about Christian Eriksen.

Former Ireland boss Brian Kerr reckons Ireland’s play-off against Denmark is too close to call but hopes Martin O’Neill’s lucky streak can affect Christian Eriksen’s availability.

Ronny Deila has described Celtic’s Champions League play-off clash with Malmo tonight as a cup final.

Malmo’s players were unimpressed with Celtic’s attitude after a 3-2 defeat at Parkhead that leaves the Scottish side’s Champions League hopes on a knife-edge.

Neil Lennon is battling against expectation and assumption ahead of Celtic’s Champions League play-off game against Helsingborgs at Parkhead tonight.

Helsingborg 0 Celtic 2

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he turned down the chance to become Norway coach following the recent resignation of Aage Hareide.

Norway 1 Republic of Ireland 1

JOHN ARNE Riise has admitted that he is ‘hopeless’ with his right foot and cannot do much more on it than just stand.

Alan Smith insists a seventh-month absence through injury has only increased his desre to succeed at Manchester United.

Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could find himself in conflict with Alex Ferguson after being recalled to the Norway squad for the friendly against Brazil in Oslo on August 16.

Walter Smith is unimpressed by Norway coach Age Hareide’s dismissal of Scotland’s World Cup prospects.

BOHEMIANS yesterday welcomed the good news that their experienced centre-back Colin Hawkins and skilful winger Bobby Ryan had overcome injuries in time to play against Rosenborg of Sweden in the Champions’ League, second round tie at Dalymount Park tonight at 7.45pm.