Ireland coach Martin O’Neill says his squad are fit and raring to go ahead of their opening Euro 2016 clash with Sweden at the Stade de France on Monday.
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“The way the competition has evolved and way it’s been sorted, I think the third game you’re still going to be in it fighting for something”.
“I feel like I am getting better and better every years that passes”.
Lyon: It will be Belgium’s star-studded attack against Italy’s dogged defence and Marouane Fellaini says his team have the weapons to make a winning start to Euro 2016 on Monday. With the tough upcoming group for Ibrahimovic’s global team, the Red Devils may not have to wait long – after the Rep. of Ireland, Sweden will face Italy and Belgium.
“Ireland and ourselves are the underdogs in our group, and we’re quite close to one another in the rankings”.
He said: “I have been dominating wherever I go, I have no issue about that”.
The Sweden global will leave France after four successful years, with United thought to be leading the chase for his signature. I go into this tournament with a strong season behind me. On top of all that, he’s a very, very good player.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s move to Manchester United has hit a snag because of the striker’s desire to play in the Olympic Games this summer, according to the Daily Mirror. I play differently with PSG obviously but you must be patient in what you expect from your team-mates.
“I come to France, where I have been living for the last four years now, I know the country very well”.
He is relishing the opportunity to play a major tournament game in the city which has been his home for the past four years, but O’Neill (right) last night said that his squad are ready to cope with the stage which they fought so hard to reach.
“I’m 100 per cent sure it [the speculation] will not affect Zlatan”. First and foremost, I’ll do my best for the team, but if there’s a chance there, hopefully I’ll take it’. But the other teams will know they’ve been in a tough group against Ireland and that’s what we want. What the future will be, you will know soon.
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And while the manager stated that tonight’s game was not a must-win encounter, it is certainly a winnable game in his mind, as was stated by his assistant Roy Keane on Saturday who said that Ireland will feel that they can win all three games.
