ROI preparing for first leg play off against Denmark
The Republic of Ireland are in Copenhagen hoping to make the final for the first time in 15 years.
Martin O'Neill's men face the Danes in the first leg of the World Cup play-off in Telia Parken on Saturday evening.
They go into the game ranked seven places below their opponents.
Assistant manager Roy Keane says they're ready for a real battle to make it to Russia next summer:
"The players will give everything they can for their country and that's all you can ask and that's what they've done for the last three or four years.
"They've been great to work with.
"I think I made the point last week about we're so near but so far as well.
"It's a tough couple of games coming up," he said.
Speaking at a press conference in Denmark on Friday evening, boss Martin O'Neill said he knows the Danes will put up a tough challenge:
"They've got quality, they've got a lot of quality, they've got boys playing in major leagues throughout Europe, the top leagues as well too.
"And they beat Poland, our old adversaries 4-nil here.
"It's been a very, very strong finish so this is difficult," he said.
But he insisted despite the quality of the Danish side, he remains confident in his own side:
"I think they've got some fine players and so have we.
"They have some big players playing in the major leagues around Europe and that's obviously a big advantage but we've overcome these disadvantages in the past."