Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy issued a call of defiance after his side missed out on automatic qualification for Euro 2020, warning their playoff rivals: “We can beat anybody!”
Ireland drew 1-1 with Denmark in Dublin on Monday night in their final game of the regular qualifying campaign, meaning they finish second in Group D, and will now have to wait until March for another chance to reach next summer’s tournament.
McCarthy’s side were the better team for much of the clash, but ultimately left themselves too much to do when switching off to allow Martin Braithwaite to open the scoring, with Matt Doherty’s late header not enough to inspire a turnaround.
Despite the result, McCarthy declared himself pleased, and insists his side still have every chance of qualifying for a third successive European Championships.
"I am immensely proud of the players,” he told Sky Sports. “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. 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."
