It’s a case of do but not die for McCarthy in Switzerland

It’s not ‘do or die’ for Ireland tomorrow tonight – more like a case of ‘do but not die’. The prize for claiming three points in Geneva, unlikely as the prospect of victory might currently seem to many, would be the whole Group D mission accomplished: a place secured in the Euro 2020 finals in Dublin.

But a defeat would not represent the death of the dream as, in the event of a draw, it would simply mean Ireland would have another opportunity to go for the one win they need — at home to Denmark next month. And were they to fall short in that one, a play-off next Spring surely beckons — although that’s not so much a safety net, more the definitive last chance saloon for Mick McCarthy’s second reign.