A sixth meeting in two years, four of them goalless or low-scoring draws, has produced a deep rivalry between Ireland and Denmark which may create some feisty exchanges at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin this evening.

It is effectively a qualification decider. If Ireland do not win they will have to go through the play-offs to reach the Euros, where the prize will be two or three home games to be played in Dublin in what will be a pan-European event. Denmark need only a point to qualify, so tensions are likely to be heightened,

When they met at the same stadium two years ago to contest a place in the 2018 World Cup, Ireland were on the end of a Christian Eriksen-inspired 5-1 thumping