The Republic of Ireland failed to automatically qualify for Euro 2020 after drawing with Denmark and will now have to earn their place at next summer’s tournament through the play-offs.
Needing a win to secure qualification, the Irish were held to a 1-1 draw by Denmark at a raucous Aviva Stadium on Monday night.
Matt Doherty equalised for the hosts with five minutes remaining but Ireland were unable to score again as Martin Braithwaite’s 73rd-minute opener proved pivotal.
The Irish players collapsed to the ground at the final whistle while Denmark celebrated a draw that ensures they automatically qualify for Euro 2020.
Ireland can still join Denmark at the tournament via the play-offs, with a potential semi-final away to Wales, Slovakia or Bosnia-Herzegovina due to take place in March.
Reacting to the draw, Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy said: ‘I am immensely proud of the players. They pushed them right to the limit.
‘If my players and my team leave everything on the pitch I will take the result as it comes so I will have to take the defeat.
‘You just need that bit of luck. We had opportunities but I am not going to criticise the lads they have been brilliant, we lost one game out of eight. Very proud of them.
‘We can beat anyone in the play-offs. The players will go back to their clubs and we don’t have a game until March.
“We were the better team. One slip has cost us”
Ireland head to the #Euro2020 qualifying play-offs after drawing with Denmark at the Aviva
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— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 18, 2019
‘I’ll be getting round them and reminding them it has been a good campaign and that we can play like that, so why not play like that in March.’
Captain Shane Duffy, meanwhile, said: ‘It’s disappointing, I thought we were the better team and one slip has cost us.
‘We believed we could beat them, it was difficult when they went 1-0 up but we kept going and we have to pick ourselves up for some big games in March.
‘There is no blame in this team, we win and lose together. We pick ourselves up and we go again.
‘They didn’t create that many clear-cut chances, we had a few, I had the feeling this was our game, this was our moment.
‘We gave everything, but the win wasn’t there. It’s a hard one to take right now. We have scored a few late goals in this campaign but it wasn’t to be.’
Striker David McGoldrick admitted it was a ‘heartbreaking’ evening for Ireland and felt the home side would have scored a decisive second goal had they had another five minutes to play.
He said: ‘We gave it our all and that’s what the manager asked for.
‘We deserved to win the game, but we drew and it’s heartbreaking. I had a few chances, I had a header which hit my shoulder. I have to do better as a striker and I accept that.
‘Maybe another five minutes and we would’ve got a second.’
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