This group is without a doubt the most anticipated one going into Euro 2016 and I know I speak for a lot of people when I say I can not wait for the clash between Belgium and Italy.
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Gigi Buffon assures “Italy’s strength has always been our group” ahead of the European Championships.
They are in a tough Group E with Italy, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland, but Wilmots is eager for success. I think that on paper, we don’t look like a great side but I think that from the waist down we have probably the best team in the Euros. Surely the biggest issue for Italy though is injuries to two talismanic midfielders, Marco Verratti and Claudio Marchisio who would have held stability and expectational creativity in Italy’s midfield.
Former Arsenal and West Ham winger Ljungberg said Ibrahimovic’s aggressive play can steer Sweden into the knock-out stages, as they did in reaching the Euro 2004 quarter-finals, on his swansong at the finals.
With Italy and Belgium tipped to progress from Group E this summer, Ljungberg said the Swedes could be the dark horses aiming to avoid bowing out in the group stages for the third Euro finals running.
Republic of Ireland are next on my agenda and who wouldn’t love to see one of the biggest underdogs come out of the group of death with shocking and unbelievable qualification.
BBC One will be showing the Ireland vs Sweden contest.
Many teams may lack a true match victor, but Sweden have that in Ibrahimovic. Of course, there are other teams with more attributes than us to be considered “favourites” and other teams are considered outsiders. But the Swedes, anchored by talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic and bolstered by a convincing 3-0 win over Wales last Sunday, will have the same idea. The Red Devils have the extra creativity that will most likely get them through the other two sides by a larger margin, and that could be a difference. They only made it through qualifying because of three easy victories against poor opposition.
Vialli was involved for Italy at Euro 1988 and 1992 – in which Netherlands and Denmark both won their first ever major global titles – and after Leicester City’s Premier League triumph last season he believes an unlikely victor could go all the way. I can only be happy to be an important figure in this team. “That’s how I like to play”.
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After facing Italy in Lyon, Belgium then face the Republic Of Ireland in Bordeaux five days later before playing Sweden in Nice on June 22.
