Prediction: Denmark vs Republic of Ireland

Verdict: Denmark win and under 3.5 goals 

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Bet365

Two sides looking to secure their spot at next year’s European Championships, Denmark will welcome Ireland to Telia Parken on Friday night.

Denmark

Starting with the hosts, after coming from three goals behind to snatch a point off of Switzerland in their EURO 2020 qualifying opener back in March, the mood in Denmark’s camp will be on a high. Making it out of the Group stages at last summers World Cup finals before falling to eventual finalists Croatia on penalties, Åge Hareide will be confident of making a push for the top of Group D this year. Sharing their pot with the likes of Ireland and Switzerland, two nations seen to be their major contenders for qualification, the Danes are currently enjoying a seven-match unbeaten run that stems back to the start of September. Led by Tottenham talisman Christian Eriksen, a huge part of Denmark’s impressive resurge has come down to their continued performances at Telia Parken. Friday’s hosts are unbeaten in their last six appearances on home soil and their continued defensive stability will be most impressing Hareide. De rød-hvide have recorded clean sheets in all of their previous six matches in København, a run that goes all the way back to January 2018.

Team News

Christian Eriksen is back with Demark after a Champions League final defeat and speculation over his future.

Republic of Ireland

As for the visitors, while Ireland may still not have completely managed to find their stride under returning boss Mick McCarthy, they do find themselves sitting pretty in Group D. Managing to pick up a pair of hard-fought 1-0 wins over Gibraltar and Georgia, the Greens currently sit two points clear in the race for automatic qualification. Desperate to secure a major tournament return after missing out on a trip to Russia last summer, the former Ipswich boss will know that his men must show a more clinical edge in the final third if they’re to come through a grueling qualification. Ireland have now managed to record just two goals in over 550 minutes of action and have not managed to score more than a single goal in one match since a 2-1 victory over the USA 12 months ago. While the mood in their camp should be on a high, McCarthy will also be growing more concerned by the Greens’ performances outside of Dublin. Friday’s visitors have recorded just a single victory on the road in their last seven attempts.

Team News

Ireland have already lost the services of Mark Travers (hand), Shane Long (hamstring) and Alan Browne (calf).

Key Factors to Consider

• Denmark are enjoying a six-match unbeaten run on home soil.
• The hosts have also recorded clean sheets in all of those six appearances.
• Ireland have won just one of their last seven matches outside of Dublin.
• The Greens have also scored just three goals in those seven appearances.
• Three of the last four meetings between the two nations has finished 0-0.

Conclusion

While Ireland might find themselves topping Group D, the Danes should see Friday as a golden chance to pick up a crucial three points. Given their continued defensive performances, particularly at Telia Parken, coupled with Ireland’s notorious issues in the final third, we’re backing Denmark to come away with the victory in what could be a low-scoring encounter.

Verdict: Denmark win and under 3.5 goals 

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Bet365