With Ireland hardly shooting the lights out and their own defence proving so stubborn, there is a distinct possibility that the World Cup playoff against Denmark could go to a penalty shoot-out.
With the first leg of the playoff ending in a goal-less draw, in Copenhagen, Ireland now know that a win in Dublin will see them into their first World Cup since 2002.
The Danes were frustrated for long spells on Saturday but, according to midfielder Thomas Delaney, they will be hoping Ireland will be a tad more adventurous in the return tie. Martin O’Neill may draft David Meyler back in, for Callum O’Dowda, so don’t expect Ireland to go gung-ho for the win.
The Danes can qualify yet by securing a score draw so Ireland will be doing their utmost to prevent them from scoring. Expect a cagey affair… again.
Were the game to finish 0-0, fans of both countries would be left with the prospect of a penalty shoot-out to reach World Cup 2018.
Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph told reporters, on Saturday, that he and his teammates would be practising penalties in training ahead of the second leg. The Middlesbrough No.1 did not falter when he then suggested he would have no issue with taking a spot-kick himself if called upon.
Most importantly, though, Ireland need Randolph keeping the Danes out. If the game does go to penalties, though, the Danes hold the advantage. Ksper Schmeichel [26%] has a better penalty save percentage than Randolph [16%].
Straffesparksstatistik i karrieren: Randolph med en redningsrate på 16 % (8 ud af 50). Schmeichel på 26 % (17 ud af 65).
— Jonathan Haag Hartmann (@JonHHartmann) November 12, 2017
As for the Danes, they are not bothering too much for a potential shoot-out. They seem set on winning this match over 180 minutes, or 210 if needs be. Denmark coach Age Hareide told BT:
“We have players here that have taken part in big penalty shoot-outs. When you practice penalties in training, you never get the atmosphere that will be there on the night. Training can’t give you that. It’s easy to take penalties in training but it’s not something we are going to train for.”
One can either obsess about the shoot-out, whether it comes or not, or back oneself when the moment arrives.
It is a very pragmatic approach but we do feel a little safer knowing Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady & Co. are going to practice their spot-kicks.
If it gets to that stage of the game, we would back their nerves, while watching it all unfold through the gaps of our fingers.
