Ireland must buck trend to enjoy home comforts against Denmark

Martin O’Neill probably had the best quote on the size of Ireland’s play-off challenge before he even learned the identity of his team’s opponents in Zurich yesterday.

Asked, after the victory in Cardiff, who he feared the most of the four seeded teams, the manager replied: “We fear everybody – and then we go and beat them.”

That odd mixture of trepidation and confidence probably still reflects the fluctuating mood of most Irish supporters in the wake of a favourable draw which sees O’Neill’s team pitted against the Danes next month - in Copenhagen on Saturday November 11th and back in Dublin three days later.