In the latest of his Euro 2016 Blog Network instalments, Anton Boström of Eurosport Sweden admits Shane Long is the only Irish player Sweden fear as our first opponents also target Monday’s Group E opener as a “must win” game.
The game against Ireland is the big one. Everyone in Sweden knows it. Lose and the tournament is as good as over.
But confidence is high in the squad and amongst supporters. The solid win against Wales in the last friendly before leaving for France ensured that most people in Sweden are upbeat about the chances of a (relatively) successful summer.
This is a must win game, but Ireland is considered the weakest team in the group and probably the only player that people see as dangerous is Shane Long. The Swedish defenders are not the quickest and the Southampton forward pose a serious threat with his speed and ability to counter attack.
Finding a solution to prevent Ireland from quick transitions will be key to a victory. Kim Källström and Oscar Lewicki in midfield will need to stop the Irish midfield from playing the ball behind a slow Swedish back four.
Other than Long there are not that many players that are being talked about with fear. The Premier League players are of course well known. Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy are good players but the biggest names such as Robbie Keane, Shay Given and John O’Shea are clearly past their prime.
Those in Sweden that watch Norwich regularly (not that many) will know that Wes Hoolahan can do and Robbie Brady has a dangerous left foot. Other then that I’d say it’s an anonymous squad. The general Swede would struggle to name the full starting XI.
In many ways Ireland and Sweden have a lot in common. Both have ageing squads that lack big profiles (with one obvious exception) and many are facing their last games in the national shirt. They will both play organised, defensive football without risks. Solid but unspectacular is what we expect to see from Ireland in this game.
From a Swedish perspective there are a few things that they will look to exploit. There will be space out on the flanks behind the fullbacks if Ireland uses the same tactics as earlier. Leipzig winger Emil Forsberg (above) will look to take advantage of that.
The other question is whether the back four can handle a player of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s quality, neither Darren Randolph or Shay Given feels good enough at this level really. I’m sure Erik Hamrén will want to take advantage of that.
Martin O’Neill is still a respected coach in Sweden. He is of course best known for his time in Celtic when Henrik Larsson ruled Scottish football. While perhaps, like many of the players, his best days are behind him, there is a sense that his tactics are better suited to international football, where organisation and a defensive approach are often vital for success. It’s more about not conceding than scoring goals.
Roy Keane will never be at peace with mediocrity and that's good news for Ireland, @dionfanning reports from Cork https://t.co/nwCPAjyGBZ
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 1, 2016
The fact that Roy Keane is an assistant manager is not something that people care about. Few people take him seriously. He did a decent job at Sunderland 10 years ago but it feels like it’s more about headlines with him.
If anything people might be hoping for him to create a rift in the Ireland squad before the game with an ill thought comment but other then that no one feels he has any real influence on how Ireland will play.
When it comes down to it, it will be a tough game but if Sweden play to their level they will win.
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