Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy claims the pressure is all on Switzerland

Mick McCarthy has admitted the Republic of Irelands Euro 2020 qualifier in Geneva is do-or-die but only for Switzerland.Ireland would book their place at next summers finals with victory at the Stade De Geneva, while the Swiss, who are ranked 11th in the world Ireland are 28th would effectively have to rely upon the play-offs.Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic has urged his team, who lost 1-0 in Denmark on Saturday, to treat the game as a cup final, but McCarthy insists that is not the case for the visitors.He said: Everybody wants to make it a cup final, a do-or-die, and I dont think it is. I think it is for them.Peter Schmeichel has been critical of the Republic of Ireland (Ian Nicholson/PA)They do have to beat us tomorrow night. Thats not the case with us, is it? We get a draw tomorrow night and weve still got Denmark to play.And I have to say, when I look back at the game against Switzerland, I cant think for one minute how anyone could imagine that were just going to come here and go all guns blazing and going to take them on and just going to win, because they are a very good side.They just dominated Denmark, all over them, they were.McCarthy was in feisty mood in the wake of Saturdays 0-0 draw in Georgia, which sparked a level of criticism he patently felt was harsh, and he proclaimed himself not bothered by reported comments from former Denmark keeper Peter Schmeichel describing his team as so bad.He said: I just keep getting messages from people saying: F the begrudgers and I keep thinking: Whats going on?. And seriously, whats going on? "Get behind us!"Just before speaking to the press, Mick spoke to FAI TV where he had a message for the fans ahead of tomorrow's game and he wished Joe Schmidt and @IrishRugby the best ahead of #NZLvIRE#SUIIRL pic.twitter.com/03eYln5YP9 FAIreland (@FAIreland) October 14, 2019I just dont get a feeling that we are within a win of qualifying, I just dont get the sense there is some sense of anticipation or excitement and there should be.Ive been asked if it is a cup final. No, but Im excited about it. Im excited about the prospect of winning.I think were in a good position. Thats how I feel. Just because were 90 minutes away doesnt mean to say its going to happen.You can say it and make everyone feel good about it, but we have a hell of a task on tomorrow night to make sure that would happen playing against, I think, the best team in the group.McCarthys biggest decision appears to surround 19-year-old Brighton striker Aaron Connolly, whose debut in a late cameo in Tbilisi has catapulted him to the brink of a first start.Aaron Connolly is in contention to start on Tuesday (Steven Paston/PA)Asked if it would be a risk to throw the teenager in at the deep end, the manager replied: Well, thats the question, isnt it? Asking me would I risk him, theres some suggestion that there is (a risk).I dont think there is. Hes now made his debut. He had a cameo and did well in it and I think he will be feeling comfortable about himself, so no, I dont think it would be a risk at all to start him.However, McCarthy admitted he may have to change the shape of his team to accommodate Connolly and provide him with the support he would need.He said: I wouldnt want him to be isolated up there, thats for sure. They play three at the back and I think putting Aaron into that, if I decided to do it, putting him up on his own would be a big ask, I think on his first full start.(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
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