O’Neill admitted that his dressing-room in the Stade de France was a deflated place after a 71st-minute own goal from Ciaran Clark cancelled out Wes Hoolahan’s magnificent opener in a game that the Republic deserved to win. He was replaced after 63 minutes and O’Neill indicated that he is anxious about the 32-year-old.
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Ireland worked tirelessly to try and take three points from their easiest-looking Group E fixture and deny Ibrahimovic the chance to make his mark on the tournament, but a tenacious first-half performance gave way to a exhausted final quarter and Sweden capitalised. “Our attacking play wasn’t good”. In the first half we were excellent and at the start of the second half as well. Martin O’Neill’s side controlled the first-half of the Group E encounter in Paris and took the lead through Wes Hoolahan’s sublime half-volley after 47 minutes. To be a forward you need support.
“We started well, we created a lot of chances: Jeff of the crossbar, Longy got a chance and O’Shea almost off the back stick”.
Whereas Northern Ireland sat off Poland, as they looked to contain the threat of Lewandowski, Republic of Ireland did not seem too preoccupied with the threat of Ibrahimovic, regularly fired balls into the Swedish box and looked to utilise the pace of Shane Long against in behind their opponent’s back-line.
“Yes, 100 per cent, especially the way we played today in the first half pushing forward”.
Defender John O’Shea missed the clearest opportunity, failing to get a touch to an inviting flick when three yards out in front of an open net.
Prior to Sweden’s equalizer, the Irish had looked the better team and had deservedly gone ahead early in the second half thanks to Wes Hoolahan’s superb finish.
“For the first 50 minutes Ireland were better”. It was a really great effort from the team. Jeff Hendrick shot wide then hit the bar, and Shane Long nearly got to another brilliant Robbie Brady delivery from just yards out.
“My calf was playing up a little bit but I should be fine”.
Nothing quite that dramatic this time, but Sweden’s goal again came from the left as Ibrahimovic whipped in a quick cross that Ciaran Clark headed into his own net. He simply did not fit into Trapattoni’s blueprint, but given his head by O’Neill, he demonstrated not only his creativity, but his finishing ability with a goal of genuine quality to give the Republic the lead.
“I think we got to take the positives”. I didn’t feel like I could sprint or really jump but I was trying to get through it and hope that it would settle down.
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That acted as a wake-up call for Sweden, who were relying on their enigmatic 34-year-old captain Ibrahimovic.
