David Meyler is sure Ireland will beat Denmark to secure World Cup place

DAVID MEYLER says ‘Yes we can’ qualify for the World Cup.

The stand-in Ireland skipper, 28, was emphatic on the eve of the play-off second leg with Denmark at the Aviva Stadium.

Martin O’Neill’s men need to win in 90 minutes or, if the game remains scoreless through that, in 120 minutes — or even on penalties.

But the Corkman is ready for whatever it takes.

Meyler was asked would he take a penalty if it came down to a shoot-out.

His immediate response was, ‘Yes’.

He had the same positive one-word answer for the two follow-up questions about taking spot-kicks before and whether he was confident he could score.

Even boss O’Neill jokingly trying to burst his bubble by reminding him that he has missed previously — including during yesterday’s training session.

But that was not going to bother the Hull City midfielder, who is completely confident we are going to Russia.

Meyler said: “I only see one outcome, I think Ireland are going to the World Cup.

“I don’t think anyone will stand in our way.

“I believe in the manager, I believe in the players and I believe in all the back-room staff.

“I believe in everyone and I believe we will go to the World Cup.

“Denmark are a very good team, very good players, but they don’t have the character and the heart and the desire we have.

“We need to go and perform and we need to score goals. I believe we will.

“We’re going to try to win the game because we want to qualify for the World Cup.

“This is the stuff you dream of as a kid. We are 90 minutes away from that. If you look back to the Serbia game at the start of the campaign, this is where you wanted to be.”

The inspiration comes from his own childhood experiences.

He explained: “As a kid you dream of it.

“I’ve memories of the 1994 World Cup and running around the house at home.

“Being 90 minutes away from qualifying for the World Cup is huge.

“Looking back, the sacrifices I had to go through to give me this opportunity were huge. We all want to qualify. We’ll do everything in our power to make sure we do.

“The Euros were great and we can draw on that, but we need to go and perform and I fully believe we’ll be going to Russia.”

Meyler was an irritated spectator in the Parken Stadium during the first leg because suspension kept him out of the game.

But he was delighted with what he saw his team-mates do as they kept the tie alive for the second leg in Dublin.

Meyler insisted: “It’s obviously a lot different if you’re involved. When you’re watching, you’re kicking every ball and you’re screaming.

“The lads did very well and we have to continue that and get to Russia.”

But he knows it will be no landslide victory.

Ireland have scored just 12 goals in 11 games on the road to Russia so far and five of those were against the whipping boys of Group D, Moldova.

And, only four of those strikes came in the five home games at the Aviva Stadium.

The flip side of that is that the Boys in Green have been difficult to break down.

Ireland lost just once in those 11 matches and kept three clean sheets on the trot.

Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney likened breaking down this Ireland team to “opening a can of baked beans with your bare hands”.

And Meyler insists that, even at home, Ireland will not make it easy.

He said: “It’s simple. We’ve got to go and win the game.

“We approach every game the same way.

“The game away to Denmark, the lad said they were trying to open a can of beans with their hands.

“It’s not like we’re going to turn over and be easy to beat at home, that we’re going to lie there and let Denmark roll us over.

“They didn’t score in the first leg and we kept them quiet. It will have to be the same now, but it’s not just Christian Eriksen.

“They have a good team with a lot of players in the Champions League. We have watched them all week and are fully prepared.”

He believes the sell-out Aviva crowd has a role too as Ireland look to change their recent home record.

Whereas the Euro 2016 qualifiers saw Ireland get some huge successes in Dublin by beating Germany and Bosnia-Herzegovina, this World Cup campaign has been the opposite, with the big results all on the road.

Meyler added: “When the crowd’s with us and cheering us on, it gives you a huge lift.

“When you create chances, and they cheer, it gives you a lift and spurs you on.

“They can hopefully suck in a goal for us. They have always been crucial to us in the big games and throughout this campaign.”