Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has come out firing by claiming Denmark “do not regard us with enough respect”.
Tomorrow’s monster Euro 2020 decider in Dublin will be the sixth meeting in two years since the harrowing World Cup play-off.
After the drawn first leg, Danish midfielder Thomas Delaney said playing Martin O’Neill’s team was like “trying to open a tin of beans with your bare hands’.”
A year later, Delaney then labelled Ireland ‘primitive’ and ‘the most annoying team’ in international football.
Last month, Denmark and Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel panned Ireland’s qualification chances as they are “so bad.”
And Denmark manager Age Hareide last week said he was “pissed off” playing the Boys in Green so often.
But ahead of Monday’s showdown, McCarthy said: “Well I hope he's more pissed off on Tuesday morning after playing us.
“They certainly won't want to lose to us, that's for sure. They don't regard us with enough respect I don't think.
“See when you make all those comments? You have to win then. You have got to win if you dis the opposition and I make a point of never doing it.
“They've said it! And they will not want to lose against us. That would piss them off. I think you should respect your opponent and do your best to beat them.”
While McCarthy was only in charge of Ireland for this year’s drawn game in Copenhagen, he insists the dismissive comments are motivation.
“I just makes me more determined to do it,” he said. “They said it publicly, bloody hell! And you lot all reminded me.
“Age Hareide , I have the utmost respect for and I think he for me. But, well, just the comments. They all made them.”
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