Republic of Ireland 1 Denmark 5 as it happened: Christian Eriksen knocks Ireland out of World Cup

Relive the action from the Aviva Stadium

Denmark thrashed the Republic on their own patch (Getty)

Denmark's Christian Eriksen got a hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of Ireland in their playoff second leg on Tuesday to help secure the final European berth at next year's World Cup.

The Danes, who were frustrated by the well organised Irish in a scrappy goalless first leg in Copenhagen, fell behind to a Shane Duffy header after seven minutes but soon struck back.

The visitors scored twice in three minutes when Andreas Christensen's stabbed effort on the half-hour hit the post and went in off Ireland's Cyrus Christie and that was quickly followed by a superb strike from Eriksen.

Ireland tried to regroup but were easily picked off on the counter attack as Eriksen curled in his second, this time with his left foot, after 64 minutes, and completed his treble 10 minutes later before Nicklas Bendtner added a late penalty.

Relive the match below.

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[14 November 2017 21:04 · Mark Critchley]

GOAL! Republic of Ireland 1 Denmark 3 (Eriksen)

Superb again from Eriksen, who takes the ball after a spell of pressure outside the Irish box, looks up then guides a shot out of Randolph's reach and into the corner of the net.

Ireland have an almost insurmountable task now.

[14 November 2017 21:10 · Mark Critchley]

67 min: McClean rises for a header but directs the ball over Schmeichel's bar.

Barely an 'ooooh' from the Aviva. Denmark seem to have taken Europe's final ticket to Russia.

[14 November 2017 21:14 · Mark Critchley]

70 min: Here comes Shane Long, replacing Ciaran Clark.

Room for more Aviva heroics from the Southampton striker? It seems a tall order.

[14 November 2017 21:17 · Mark Critchley]

GOAL! Republic of Ireland 1 Denmark 4 (Eriksen)

Not as pretty as his other two, but that's the match ball for the best player on the park.

Stephen Ward attempts to clear a cross from the left but botches it, slipping and essentially laying off Eriksen to rifle past Randolph.

[14 November 2017 21:20 · Mark Critchley]

78 min: Best opportunity of the second-half for Ireland goes begging.

Long was slipped through by a terrific, line-splitting through ball but the frontman snatches at his effort, lifting it over the top of the crossbar.

[14 November 2017 21:30 · Mark Critchley]

Penalty to Denmark!

A clumsy James McClean tackle catches Niklas Bendtner's foot and Denmark are awarded a spot-kick.

[14 November 2017 21:32 · Mark Critchley]

GOAL! Republic of Ireland 1 Denmark 5 (Bendtner)

Five for Denmark. Bendtner wins, takes, scores and compounds Ireland's misery.

[14 November 2017 21:34 · Mark Critchley]

Full-time: Republic of Ireland 1 Denmark 5

A chastening night for Irish football and one that started so well.

For half an hour, it seemed as though O'Neill's plan would be enough to see them through, but Denmark's quick-fire double in the space of three minutes set the tone for the rest of the evening.

What can you say against Christian Eriksen though? The World Cup would have been a far poorer tournament without him.

[14 November 2017 21:40 · Mark Critchley]

Here are some things we learned. One for each Danish goal, in fact...