Mick McCarthy feels that the Republic of Ireland have every chance of winning two playoff games in the space of six days next March and making Euro 2020 if they can replicate their performance against Denmark last night.
Ireland failed to get the win that would secure a place in the tournament next summer with Martin Braithwaite putting the visitors in front 15 minutes from time and Matt Doherty setting up a grandstand finish with an equaliser with five minutes still to go.
“Mixed emotions,” said McCarthy afterwards. “Disappointed that we've not qualified yet. We're in the playoffs but I'm immensely proud of the players for their performance and even more so for going one down which was a poor goal to give away.
The Doc wont be pleased. His man has got a run on him but he has gone and equalised. I gave out to him for the goal they scored and forgot to congratulate him for the one he scored so I'll have to go back in do that now.
It's a tall order for a side that failed to beat either Switzerland or Denmark across four games in their qualifying group but McCarthy was bullish when asked about his team's chances in the play-off lottery when it comes around.
“I've got three months to prepare for that,” said McCarthy who insisted he was happy with his team throughout the campaign. “We'll see who we get and I'll plan for that when we know. If we play as well as that against other teams and we can beat them.”
McCarthy's positive take was echoed by his counterpart minutes later. Age Hareide seemed eager to comfort his hosts. “Dublin feels like home,” he joked at one point but he finally seemed to be impressed by Ireland – at the sixth time of asking.
Was this the best they had played across that half-dozen games?
“Yeah I would say that. They did well but we didn't play well at all. I don't know what happened. A solid defensive play saw us through the first-half and the second-half we got in front which eased off the pressure. Then they put a lot of pressure on us.
“And it is difficult because they have to throw a lot of players forward and we have the same number defending. You have to gamble with the counter attacks.
Lucky to get away with a draw. If Ireland keep playing like that they should come through the Nations League playoff and qualify.
Ireland were unquestionably better than they were last month when drawing in Georgia and losing in Switzerland. But, good? That would be a stretch. Even McCarthy admitted that the one thing that didn't please him was their play in the final third.
The Republic managed just seven goals across eight games in a group that included Gibraltar. David McGoldrick's touch and vision helped them put some good moves together here, and Matt Doherty grew as an attacking option as the game went on, but they need to do more.
Much more.
