THE GENERAL CONSENSUS is that the Republic of Ireland have done well out of today’s play-off draw.
Denmark stand in the way of the Boys in Green’s first appearance at the World Cup since 2002, which — on paper at least — looks a more manageable task than facing either Croatia or Italy.
Speaking in Zurich directly after the news broke, the Ireland boss expressed his satisfaction at the outcome.
“Naturally, as an unseeded team, the draw was going to be difficult,” O’Neill told Sky Sports.
“We’re delighted to be here, first of all. We had a great win against Wales to propel us, now let’s take our chance.”
I think Denmark might have had a similar feeling,” he replied, when asked if it is the best draw he could have hoped for. ”I suppose if you asked all the unseeded coaches, none of us probably wanted to play Italy.”
The first leg will take place on Saturday, 11 November in Copenhagen before the return in Dublin three days later.
“I’m delighted to be drawn away from home first so we can try and get some sort of advantage, or certainly negate Denmark’s advantage before we get to Dublin,” O’Neill said of the fixtures.
“I’m hoping that can have a big bearing on proceedings, but we have to be going to Dublin with something still to play for. You don’t want to be out of the competition before that game takes place.”
Two years ago, Ireland saw off Bosnia & Herzegovina over two legs to reach Euro 2016, and the Derry man is confident that experience will stand to his players.
“I think we can draw from that,” he added. “We had two games against Bosnia and they were very difficult matches for us. The first was shrouded in fog during the second half, and we got that elusive away goal, which was very important.
“We were able to carry that momentum into the second leg, which we won. It would be a terrific achievement if we could make it, but we’ve got a long way to go.”
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