Slovakia have been given until December 20 to decide whether to host the Republic of Ireland in Trnava or Bratislava next March as Uefa continued planning for the Euro 2020 play-off draw on Friday morning.

Having saved their best till last, what a shame it was that Ireland’s hugely impressive performance in the 1-1 draw with Denmark just wasn’t quite good enough to qualify us directly for Euro 2020.

Denmark's Martin Braithwaite edged between Duffy and Matt Doherty with 17 minutes remaining of Monday's qualifier to stab a volley beyond his former Middlesbrough team-mate Darren Randolph in the Irish goal.

The Republic of Ireland’s 40-year run of misery against Denmark has continued as Ireland were left to retreat to the back-up of a Euro 2020 play-off.

Paul Dowling assesses the performances of Ireland's players in the 1-1 draw with Denmark.

Matt Doherty’s late header was not enough to send the Republic of Ireland to the Euro 2020 finals as they came up just short in a tense encounter with old foes Denmark.

Browne's inclusion in the starting team for last Thursday's friendly against New Zealand appeared to rule him out of the running.

The beef between the Republic of Ireland and Denmark has, as Ron Burgundy would put it, escalated quickly.

Ireland’s strike rate in Group D is their lowest after seven qualifiers since 1985 (0.57)

Ciaran Clark is wearing a broad smile at the Irish squad’s training base in Abbotstown — and with good reason.

Spurs teenager Troy Parrott and Celtic's Lee O'Connor both make the move up from Stephen Kenny's U21 squad

Whelan is not the only injury worry for Mick McCarthy ahead of the crucial Euro 2020 qualifier against Denmark in a fortnight's time.

Brighton extended their winning run at the Amex Stadium to three matches with a 2-0 win over struggling Norwich.

Liverpool left it late to maintain their six-point advantage at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Seamus Coleman will miss out as he serves a two-game suspension but will be invited to join up with the squad in Dublin for the final Euro 2020 qualifier.

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.

After the 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in Geneva on Tuesday, Mick McCarthy has no hesitation in saying that Ireland were beaten by “the best team in the group”.

Prior to Geneva, when did Ireland last start with 3-5-2?

Player ratings with Paul Dowling

This was a night of tension, drama, and intrigue.

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

And so it's Daneja vu all over again.

Ger McCarthy on the lessons learned from Ireland's 2-0 loss to Switzerland at the Stade de Genève.

One of Shane Duffy’s first thoughts after emerging “knackered” but alright from the 90 minutes in Tbilisi was to pay tribute to Brighton for not standing in the way of his international commitments despite their initial fears that his calf injury would be of a much longer duration.

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

Ireland are top of the group with two games to play - starting with a tough tie in Switzerland on Tuesday.

The Republic of Ireland have drawn 0-0 against Georgia in their Euro 2020 qualifier in Tbilisi.

Greetings from Tbilisi where, after a long haul that saw us checking into our hotel at 4.30am, a modest proposal formed in my addled brain: I think Istanbul should be twinned with Limerick Junction.

It didn’t take long at Mick McCarthy’s pre-match press conference for the visitors present to learn that Aaron Connolly’s fever had already reached Tbilisi.

Mick McCarthy has an acid tongue that is also capable of delivering lines as smooth as velvet.

Aaron Connolly may have appeared to be an overnight sensation when he marked his first Premier League start last weekend with two goals to sink Spurs, but Brighton have worked long and hard to nurture one of Ireland’s best young players, who could make his debut for Mick McCarthy’s side in Georgia tomorrow.

Shane Duffy will be on this afternoon’s flight which will take the Irish squad to Tbilisi for Saturday’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Georgia.

At least Kevin Long hasn’t lost his sense of humour.

“It does help that we’re both from Cork and we can understand each other.”

Following his dream debut in the Premier League on Saturday, Aaron Connolly will take his first steps as a senior Ireland international when he trains with the rest of Mick McCarthy’s squad in Abbotstown this afternoon.

Brighton’s Shane Duffy and Sheffield United’s David McGoldrick could yet be fit for Ireland’s game against Switzerland on Tuesday week.

Mick McCarthy has offered his support to Richard Keogh, as the veteran Irish defender begins his recovery from the career-threatening knee injury which he sustained in a car crash last Tuesday night following which two of his Derby County teammates - Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett - were charged with drink-driving.

Blackburn Rovers defenders Darragh Lenihan and Greg Cunningham have been called up for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 qualifiers this month.

Aston Villa cruised into the Carabao Cup fourth round, with substitute Jack Grealish sealing a comfortable 3-1 win over a young Brighton side.

Ireland’s world-beating ploughmen Eamonn Tracey from Carlow and John Whelan from Wexford will between them bid for their 13th top-two-in-the-world performances, after winning their national test matches at Carlow last week.

A look at the Republic of Ireland's player performances against Bulgaria tonight.

On a night players from both sides found it difficult to find their feet, Mick McCarthy didn’t slip up in keeping Ireland on the road to a third successive Euro finals.

A 1-1 draw represented a positive result at home to Switzerland according to Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy and man of the match Shane Duffy.

It’s an old adage in football: if you can’t win a game, at least do your best not to lose it.