MX23RW : Monday, June 10 17:06:51| >> :600:345607:345607:

Mick McCarthy: 'I would be thrilled with a draw against Denmark'

Mick McCarthy: 'I would be thrilled with a draw against Denmark'
© Reuters
The game will be the fifth time the sides have met inside a little more than 18 months.

Mick McCarthy is hoping the Republic of Ireland live up to the label of Denmark's "most annoying" opponent in Copenhagen on Friday night.

Danish midfielder Thomas Delaney, who described playing against Ireland in a World Cup play-off stalemate at the Telia Parken Stadium in 2017 as "like trying to open a can of baked beans with your bare hands", issued the back-handed compliment as he assessed the fifth meeting between the sides in 18 months in a Euro 2020 qualifier.

McCarthy said: "I doubt it was a compliment that, was it? Was it said in a derogatory way or a complimentary way?

Denmark's Thomas Delaney admits the Republic of Ireland have proved a tough nut to crack in recent times
Denmark's Thomas Delaney admits the Republic of Ireland have proved a tough nut to crack in recent times (Niall Carson/PA)

"Oh well, that's kind of him then, and I hope we are as annoying to him tomorrow night as well."

Delaney's frustration with Ireland is perhaps well-founded. Three of the four most recent meetings have ended 0-0 with the Danes' 5-1 victory in Dublin in November 2017 in stark contrast to the other games.

However, all four were played under previous manager Martin O'Neill and while McCarthy freely admits he would have stayed at home if he had been offered a point in advance, he insists his team will try to win the latest encounter ahead of Monday night's visit of Gibraltar.

He said: "I'd be thrilled with a draw. If I'd been offered a draw, I wouldn't have got on the plane. I'd have stayed at home, took the point and played against Gibraltar.

"That doesn't mean to say we're coming here just to sit back and try to get a draw, we're coming here to try to win game and we'll approach it in a very attacking, aggressive way."

Ireland opened their campaign in March with back-to-back victories over Gibraltar and Georgia, but McCarthy is well aware that Denmark represent a very different proposition.

Asked if he felt Age Hareide's side has an "evil spirit", he replied with a smile: "No I don't, I just see them as a very good football team with some good players โ€“ and they've got one real star, certainly, in [Christian] Eriksen who would grace most teams around the world.

"But it would be remiss of me to put it on him because they have got some very good players as well and they're effective.

"Age Hareide has been here for a while now. They've lost one competitive game, I believe, and they have a really good way of playing โ€“ and when they haven't got ball, they're as solid as pretty much most teams I've seen. So not an evil spirit, just a good team."

Given their recent record, there is perhaps more pressure on Denmark to get a result than on Ireland, and McCarthy will be happy if that has an effect on them.

He said: "The pressure is on both of us, isn't it? But it's their home game, so there's a weight of expectation.

"The expectancy for a country of five million people, they expect to be qualifying for World Cups and European Championships and looking to win them, so there's an expectancy there and if that adds a bit of pressure, then great."


Click here for more stories about Mick McCarthy

Click here for more stories about Republic of Ireland

Share this article now:
Alan Browne celebrates scoring for Preston North End on October 24, 2018
Read Next:
Alan Browne looking to make up for poor end to Martin O'Neill reign
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
/esi/758/0/index.html - esi:0:site:0:-p-: {0}: - :T758:-: {0}: < ! - - T  758 {0} - - >  : 
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38322495237298
2Liverpool38307189226797
3Chelsea38219863392472
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs382321367392871
5Arsenal382171073512270
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd381991065541166
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38169134746157
8Everton38159145446854
9Leicester CityLeicester38157165148352
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham38157165255-352
11Watford38148165259-750
12Crystal Palace38147175153-249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174248-645
14Bournemouth38136195670-1445
15Burnley38117204568-2340
16Southampton38912174565-2039
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3899203560-2536
RCardiff CityCardiff38104243469-3534
RFulham3875263481-4726
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3837282276-5416

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for ยฃ1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for ยฃ12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account