Italy coach Antonio Conte also referred to Sweden’s attacking woes, without being asked about them.
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This will be the third time Italy have met Sweden in the European Championships; the Azzurri claiming victory in the 2000 edition (2-1) whilst the meeting four years later ended as a draw (1-1).
Sweden’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic attends a training session at Toulouse’s stadium on the eve of their Euro 2016 group E football match against Italy.
“When he says that he is getting better, he means it”.
Italy booked their place in the knockout stages of Euro 2016 after Eder’s late solo goal gave them a 1-0 win against Sweden in a largely tiresome match in a sun-soaked Toulouse.
Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was once again kept quiet.
But Ibra will be expected to improve on his subdued showing in Sweden’s opening 1-1 Group E draw with Ireland when he was easily contained by a determined defence in Paris.
Sweden had a chance with 18 minutes left on the clock, but Sebastian Larsson failed to make a connection with Martin Olsson’s fine cross from the left, before the ball reached Ibrahimovic at the far post. “I think very few people would have envisaged that we would have been in the last 16 after just two matches”.
Manager Antonio Conte will be delighted with the response he has got from his men, despite having one of the weakest ensemble of players in a long time. Sweden will face Nigeria, Colombia and Japan in the group stages.
“They have three very strong central defenders”, he said.
Hamren said he was impressed overall with Sweden’s defending and played down its poor finishing by saying that “even Belgium didn’t score against Italy”. The star striker was often forced to drop deep into midfield – as is common when he plays with the national team – and try to find teammates on the wings.
A left-wing cross made its way through Italy’s penalty area but, despite space from directly in front of goal, he somehow missed the target and was saved from disappointment only by being ruled offside.
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“We were much better than the Italians for periods, but we didn’t create really unsafe chances”, Sweden midfielder Albin Ekdal told Swedish broadcaster SVT.
