MARTIN O'NEILL will hope to fare better than Michael O'Neill as Republic of Ireland bid to edge nearer to Russia tonight.
Northern Ireland are facing an agonising exit after losing their first leg to a penalty that should have been against Switzerland.
Now it's the Republic's turn and they are underdogs to qualify at 6-4 with Paddy Power I can see them making it to Moscow.
Denmark were one of the four play-off seeds and are 4-6 with William Hill to qualify.
Tonight's first leg in Copenhagen could be crucial and in the group stage the Irish were unbeaten on the road – winning in Austria and Wales and drawing 2-2 in Serbia.
O’Neill’s side will have to pay attention to Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen who scored more goals in qualification (eight) than any other midfielder in the group stage. Eriksen is 13-2 to score the opener and 13-5 with BetVictor to find the net at some time.
He has scored in each of his last six games for Denmark and that 13-5 looks too big. But I think Ireland can get a draw (12-5, McBookie) and set things up nicely for the return leg.
Those results should give them confidence of at least avoiding defeat and they are 7-6 with Unibet not to lose. I tipped Switzerland win or draw in Belfast and under 2.5 goals and unders tonight pays no more than 4-7 at BetBright.
As far as Northern Ireland are concerned their dream looks over – thanks to an awful penalty decision.
Having said that the Swiss looked the better side and in qualifying won all their home games including a defeat of Euro champs Portugal.
The Swiss are no bigger than 1-10 at 10Bet to qualify and I can see them winning in Berne at a best 4-7 with William Hill.
Michael O'Neill's men will have to go for goals and that's fairly alien to a team whose usual policy is not to concede.
That could leave them open and the Swiss have quality players such as Haris Seferovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka who can take advantage. Take Seferovic to score first at 9-2 with bet365.
The Irish will look to talisman Kyle Lafferty to strike and the Hearts man is 10-1 with bet365 to break the deadlock.
Croatia got the job done against Greece in the first leg with a surprisingly easy 4-1 win. Greece, like the Irish, are usually better defensively but will have no options but to go on all-out attack.
This should lead to plenty of goals and I'll be on over 2.5 goals at 28-25 with Marathonbet.
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In December 2020 we sadly 
