Republic of Ireland V Denmark: The winner takes it all

Martin O’Neill has spoken in the past of how he likes the all or nothing games, of how knowing that only a victory will do helps “clear the mind.”

Technically speaking, tonight’s game against Denmark isn’t one of those, since the muddying effect of a scoreless draw would see the drama extend beyond the regulation 90 minutes and perhaps even all the way through extra-time to a penalty shoot-out.

But in every really meaningful respect, this decisive World Cup play-off game feels every bit as clear-cut and black and white as those death or glory occasions in Lille and Cardiff, nights on which the Irish delivered when nothing less than victory would do.