Now and then: 25 years of battling the Danes

Ye Gods, it can’t be true but somehow it is. When Ireland take on Denmark in the World Cup play-off next month, it really will be 25 years (and a couple of weeks) since I was last in the Parken Stadium watching the two nations go head to head, writes Liam Mackey.

That was a World Cup qualifier too but just the third in a campaign which would take many twists and turns before culminating in that infamous ‘night in November’ in Windsor Park and the 1-1 draw which put Ireland through to US ’94.

Jack Charlton’s team had begun the mission handily enough, with back to back home wins against Albania and Latvia – the former, sports history buffs might like to note, the last time goalkeeper Packie Bonner was allowed to pick up a back pass before football’s new game-changing rule kicked in.