Republic Of Ireland vs Sweden a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
June 14, 2016
1,713 Views
- The mood in the Republic of Ireland camp will be one of reflection Today as they will ask themselves how they did not come away with a win from their opening Euro 2016 encounter with Sweden
- The performance was certainly a marked improvement on their offering during in Euro 2012 but they as well as Sweden will feel like this is the result that neither side would have wanted
- With them both to face Belgium and Italy in their remaining group matches both sides would have looked at this game as a must win if they are to have any real hopes of qualifying for the Round of 16
- Martin O’Neill’s side certainly started the livelier and created the most dangerous chances in the first half
- Jeff Hendrick rattled the frame of the Sweden goal and also called Andreas Isaksson into action with a well drilled effort from outside the box
- Robbie Brady was vibrant down the left hand side and constant threat
- While John O’Shea was agonisingly close to prodding home Ciaran Clark’s flick on
- Ireland were well marshaled and had certainly kept Zlatan Ibrahimovic quiet during the first 45 minutes
- Darren Randolph was called into action though on a number of occasions but he was more than equal to anything that the Swedish attack threw at him
- Would Martin O’Neill’s side regret not taking those early chances though
- Well they wouldn’t have been concerned just three minutes after the restart when Wes Hoolahan fired home a sublime volley from the edge of the box to send the Irish fans into ecstasy
- The goal was nothing short of what they deserved but the goal was almost their undoing
- Once going ahead they lost the intensity that got them there in the first place
- They then decided to sit back and invite wave after wave of Swedish pressure
- Once again Randolph was busy but Ireland were still just managing to fend off the Swedish attack
- But how long could they keep this up
- The answer was not long
- In when one of the rare moments in which Ibrahimovic broke free he managed to get a low cross in and Ciaran Clark evoked the spirit of Richard Dunne by heading into his own net to give Sweden an equaliser
- Despair for Ireland and the failure to take those chances in the first half had come back to haunt them
- It was then Sweden in the ascendancy and you got the feeling that if anyone was to get a winner it would be them
- But credit to the boys in green there were resolute to hold on for a share of the points in what would have ultimately felt like a disappointing draw
- But they will certainly take positives from this performance, although they need to make sure they can do it for 90 minutes and not fizzle out after an hour
- Because Italy and Belgium will not pay them the same respect that Sweden did
- Next up Ireland take on Belgium and will aim to stay ahead of them in the group while Sweden take on Italy
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