Kasper Schmeichel: 'I'm sure we will see a little bit of Roy Keane's on-pitch persona in the Irish team'

Macdara Ferris reports from Copenhagen

The prize that await the winners of the playoff between Denmark and the Republic of Ireland is the trip to the World Cup next summer. The losers stay at home and watch on TV and Kasper Schmeichel doesn’t want it to be him.

The Premier League winning goalkeeper has his eyes on playoff prize. “I’ve never played in a major tournament and that is something I want to do,” said the Leicester City player on the eve of the game.

“It is a major chance for every player. We’ve missed out on qualification the last two times. It is no secret that it hasn’t been enjoyable sitting at home watching it on TV and we don’t want to experience again.”

His father, Peter Schmeichel, soldiered with Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane during their time with Manchester United.

Asked about his recollections of those times, Kasper Schmeichel said: “My memories of Roy Keane are of him mostly holding trophies. He was an inspirational leader for Manchester United.

“Roy is a typical Irishman. They have a unique character. I’ve played with a lot of Irishmen. They are serious about their work but also want to have fun. I’m sure we will see a little bit of Roy Keane’s on-pitch persona in the team tomorrow.”

The persona may come out in the form of James McClean carrying out a ‘reducer’ tackle early in the game like Roy Keane’s tackle on Marc Overmars in 2001 – a tackle that has earned mythical status as one that seemed to single-handedly earn Ireland a berth at the last World Cup they qualified for.

McClean though, like ten Irish and ten Danish players, including Schmeichel, are all just one yellow card away from missing the second leg in Dublin.

Schmeichel has got three cleans sheets from his seven starts – compared with Darren Randolph’s five from ten starts.

At the other end of the pitch from Schmeichel, Christian Eriksen (another player on a yellow card) has been in superb form - both internationally and at club level in the Premier League. The Spurs striker has got six goals in seven international appearances for Denmark this year.

Despite being the seeded team, Eriksen wasn’t reading too much into his team being maybe slight favourites and he isn’t worried about the defensive system that Ireland may deploy in the first leg to stifle the home team.

“We go into the game confident trying to get the best result possible. Whether we are favourites or not, it doesn’t matter. These are two games where anything can happen.

“We will go out to do our thing. If they put a lot of players behind the ball like in previous games, we need to play it quick and open up the game.

“The game may be dragged out. We want to score and create chances. We may have fewer in this game.”  

For managerial reaction from Martin O'Neill see: O'Neill looking to lord it over his former tenant

extratime.ie will be covering the FIFA World Cup playoff first leg between Denmark and the Republic of Ireland live from Copenhagen. Our reporter Macdara Ferris will be in the Parken Arena to take you through the match build-up, including both pre-match press conferences on Friday, and the game itself on Saturday evening. Our match preview is here.

Training in the Parken Stadium ahead of Saturday's Playoff game pic.twitter.com/zGYc1OwRio

— Macdara Ferris (@macdarabueller) November 10, 2017