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Seamus Coleman gives Danish jibes short shrift

Ireland captain Seamus Coleman has brushed off critical remarks from the Denmark camp. Friday's E...



Seamus Coleman gives Danish ji...
Videos

Seamus Coleman gives Danish jibes short shrift

Ireland captain Seamus Coleman has brushed off critical remarks from the Denmark camp.

Friday's Euro 2020 qualifier will be the fifth meeting between the nations in the space of two years.

Three of the last four matches have been draws. But Denmark's 5-1 win in Dublin in the 2018 World Cup qualifier second leg looms large.

Thomas Delaney has been one Danish player to have been somewhat critical of Ireland's style after the most recent encounters. Although they relate to playing Martin O'Neill's version and you could read his comments as a back-handed compliment of sorts.

"When I saw that we got Ireland again, I said 'oh no, not them again'. They're the most annoying opponent," he is quoted as saying.

"We've room for improvement. We don't like playing Ireland. They don't play flowing football but they're skilled at what they do and that makes it a struggle.

"But it's also easy to sit and defend a 0-0. That's just maintaining the status quo so it'll take something different for Ireland to score."

Off The Ball's Nathan Murphy put the Danish criticism to Seamus Coleman at today's Ireland pre-match press conference.

"It wouldn't be my thing to do to come out and speak bad of other players. Definitely not," said Coleman.

Great Motivation?

"But that's there way of doing it, that's their tactic. It can be a great motivation for the boys if that's the case.

"But for other lads, it's just a game tomorrow night. You're playing for your country, you're putting on a jersey and I say it, regardless of who you're playing, there's massive pride in wearing that jersey.

"You've got people back home watching and you've got fans coming over to watch. So I'm more worried about impressing them than impressing the Denmark players."

He also added: "It's never nice to hear other players speaking down about your team. But it can also be a bit of motivation as well and them games are in the past. We're not looking at them, we're looking at tomorrow night."

But he also reserved praise for the Danes' obvious qualities.

"They're a very solid team with a bit of magic as well that we all know in a few of their players," he said.

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Denmark Ireland Mick McCarthy Off The Ball Seamus Coleman