Ireland 1-1 Denmark
It's always 1-1.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1196543457763962880
Ireland were good on Monday night. They controlled the ball, they had the most chances and they could've won had they not fallen asleep at the back on one occasion.
Unfortunately, once again, they needed the deficit of one goal to spark them into real life and they were electric for the last 20 minutes. But it wasn't enough and it's onto the playoffs.
Darren Randolph 6
Typically cool under pressure in possession. Had little to do by way of saves and couldn't do much about the toe that gave Denmark the lead.
Matt Doherty 8
Looked to have mastered space and time. Ice man who was striding out with the ball, picking passes in behind for the attackers when others weren't looking and produced a last-ditch recovery just moments before letting a white shirt float inside for the goal but he won't thank Duffy for playing him onside. Crept in for the goal at the back post and finished with aplomb.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1196540961352044545
Shane Duffy 6
Dominated the first half with that head of his but will be disappointed that he got caught way behind the offside line in the 73rd minute.
John Egan 6
Tough as old boots - won everything that came his way until he was forced off at half time.
Enda Stevens 7
Solid, smart, tough. Lovely cross for the goal. A serious asset for Ireland and will be for years to come.
Glenn Whelan 5
Does as he's told. He presses when McCarthy is losing his mind because others aren't. He holds his position when McCarthy is losing his mind when others drift. A couple of tidy interceptions but some chance back-passes early on didn't catch Ireland out when they might have.
Jeff Hendrick 4
Worked very hard but didn't offer much in possession.
Conor Hourihane 5
One tasty delivery almost made it's way past Schmeichel in the second half and he set up Whelan neatly for a nice cross too but he was sacrificed rather harshly to make way for Robinson.
Alan Browne 5
Given a very advanced role, at times had to run the channels. Threatened to burst into the Danish area on occasion and was unlucky with a left-footed half volley.
James McClean 6
Didn't waste possession when he didn't have to and showed a couple of those touchline bursts that he's had through the years but didn't make it to the byline to whip anything in. His sprint late on to get to the ball ahead of Eriksen and keep Ireland attacking was peak James McClean - fell flat on his face as he won it and got up and ran forward again. Was all over the place in the last 20 minutes - in a good way.
David McGoldrick 7
No such thing as a bad ball to big Didzi on Monday night. Made dangerous situations from scraps and showed a couple of nice bits of trickery to bring others into play. Moved out wide late on and got the crowd excited every time he was on the ball.
Subs
Ciaran Clark 6
Seamless replacement of Egan.
Callum Robinson 5
Didn't get into the game like he would've wanted to.
Sean Maguire 6
A late change but one that really lifted the crowd and sparked a fight-back. Showed pace and energy and brought others alive because of his runs and urgency. One poor cross off the first man that had McCarthy going ape-shit.
