Eriksen’s Hat-trick Lands Denmark In Russia
Denmark sealed their place at the 2018 World Cup after a Christian Eriksen hat-trick handed them a 3-0 win over Republic of Ireland in Tuesday’s playoff.
Both sides had ended the first leg of the tie on a barren note.
However, the Irish began the return fixture on a sound footing as Shane Duffy nodded home in the sixth minute.
The Danes then netted an equaliser and second goal in the space of three first-half minutes via Cyrus Christie’s own goal and Eriksen’s stunning strike.
As the second half began, the Tottenham midfielder, Eriksen, curled in from the edge of the box.
He then thumped in from inside the area to register his treble.
Not enough. former Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner came on six minutes before time and converted a penalty following a foul on him.
The Danes did not make it to the World Cup in 2014.
Eriksen elated
Eriksen was over the moon following the hat-trick.
He said: “It’s an incredible feeling. We’ve been fighting for so long to get to the World Cup. We are very much looking forward to it.
”It’s not often I score any hat-trick. So of course it is incredible.
“I know how nervous I was all day and night. We got the ball, we played better than the first game.”