- Ben Blake reports from the Stade de France, Saint-Denis
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC BELIEVES there is nothing between Sweden and Ireland going into tomorrow’s Euro 2016 meeting.
The sides face off at the Stade de France on Monday evening (5pm Irish time) and both nations will be looking at the fixture as their best chance of claiming three points in Group E with Belgium and Italy still to come.
Swedish striker Marcus Berg recently claimed Ireland’s weak point was their lack of pace at the back, but his international team-mate and captain Ibrahimovic doesn’t think that necessarily leaves them at a disadvantage.
“I’m also slow so it doesn’t matter,” the 34-year-old said at today’s pre-match press conference in Paris. “They can still be good even if they’re slow.
“It’s going to be a difficult game. They’re a good team and I agree with (manager) Erik (Hamren). It will be a 50/50 game. They fight hard so let’s see what happens.
It doesn’t matter what we sit here and talk about. It’s about what happens on the pitch during the 90 minutes tomorrow.”
Having spent four years at Paris Saint-Germain, free agent Ibrahimovic has been strongly-linked with a move to Manchester United this summer.
Ireland assistant boss Keane, a former captain at United, suggested this week that Zlatan’s arrival at Old Trafford could have an impact similar to Eric Cantona’s in 1992.
The Swedish skipper thanked Keane for his praise but shrugged off the talk about his future.
“I would take it as a compliment because if a player like Roy Keane speaks, he knows what he is talking about,” added Ibrahimovic.
“There is nothing to say about Manchester. I feel happy for the moment and you will know what the future will be soon. We’ll see what happens.”
Listen to The42′s Ben Blake on the 98FM Euro 2016 Daily podcast throughout the tournament
The game hinges around Zlatan really.
If he’s on song then I’m afeared.
He’s a fantastic player but if you actually watch Sweden play, they heavily rely on him. He is free to roam which puts players under pressure to seek him out. Sweden sit back a lot when teams press against them and Ireland can take advantage of that but the only downside is Zlatan running into empty space behind your defenders.. As close as this may be, I’m predicting a 2-0 win for Ireland on the basis we have shown our defense to be solid and Sweden crumble under pressure.
Lets not piss off Ibra – i’m not confident though – i think he will see this as his last chance to shine on the world stage. He was devastating against Wales – a side as least as good as were – albeit in a friendly. I’m less confident than i was four years ago mind you ! Please prove me wrong lads. #coybig
He can go out in style against Belgium and Italy! Day off tomorrow hopefully
They have a good little winger playing with them as well.
Those Swedish defenders are going to have just as tough a time with Shlong as we will with Zlatan. Bring it on.
They’re a great bunch of lads. Such troopers.