We’re just a few days away.
Republic of Ireland haven’t qualified for a World Cup since 2002, remember the one with Keano walking out and other Keano scoring against Germany?
Those were the days, and then it was all a bit crap for a few years under the likes of Kerr and Staunton but hey look at us now.
Since Martin O’Neill took over we beat Germany and Italy, there was also the small matter of beating Wales too. It has been fun.
Now we’re on the cusp of it, Russia is in our sights and despite being underdogs there is a sense Ireland can beat Denmark.
They do have Christian Eriksen but other than that the consensus is that it’s quite even.
The Ireland squad isn’t full of stars and everyone will need to be in their best form, we know Shane Duffy has been since Wales anyway after Jamie Carragher praising him, then there is Jeff Hendrick too but the latest man that has proven that he is playing well is a man that hopefully won’t have to do much work.
Darren Randolph may be the unsung hero for Ireland over the last couple of years, the 30-year-old has been an incredibly safe pair of hands since become a regular starter under Martin O’Neill.
Playing in the Championship you’d wonder why Randolph isn’t at a Premier League club but he certainly staked a claim for a move up to the Premier League after a Man of the Match performance helping Middlesbrough to a third successive win.
Darren Randolph is @SkyBetChamp Man of the Match after helping @Boro to a 3rd successive win, a run in which he has kept 2 clean sheets pic.twitter.com/egQ4nRulcF
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) November 5, 2017
Randolph had three saves, two catches and one punch along with a clean sheet to help his side secure a 1-0 win which lifts them to fifth in the table.
So, now, all we have to say is that Christian Eriksen do your worst because Darren Randolph is waiting.
