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Stade de France, Paris, will host the meeting between Republic of Ireland and Sweden in Group E, with the Swedes rated as 2.30 odds favorites according to the bookmakers.
Ireland is one of the best coached teams in the Euros, with the very capable Martin O’Neill in charge. The Boys in Green play very well tactically, they are very disciplined in defense and are very difficult to defeat – losing just 3 times in the previous 19 matches. They finished 3rd in a group with Germany and Poland, but qualified with an impressive playoff win, 3-1 aggregate against Bosnia. Ireland was one of the most defensive sides in the qualies, finishing with a goal difference of 19-7 in 10 matches – which is low scoring considering that Gibraltar was in Ireland’s group.
Sweden is all about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the ex – PSG superstar leading a team that is rather devoid of talent. Similar to Ireland, Sweden is a team that knows how to play tactically, defending well and relying on Zlatan to be the difference maker up front – which he usually is. The Nordics finished behind Austria and Russia in the qualifying group but defeated Denmark rather easily in the playoffs to qualify for Euro 2016.
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Team news & lineups:
Strikers Walters and Keane are questionable for Ireland and so is Robbie Brady. Sweden has no injuries or suspensions and can field the best lineup.
Ireland: Randolph – Coleman, O’Shea, Clark, Brady – Hendrick, Whelan, McCarthy, Hoolahan – Walters, Long
Sweden: Isaksson – Lustig, Granqvist, Lindelof, Olsson – Larsson, Wernbloom, Ekdal, Forsberg – Berg, Ibrahimovic
Neither team is particularly dangerous up front, aside for the obvious threat that is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Both like to stay safe at the back and force the ball to be played around the middle of the pitch, so I can see a rather boring match today, with nobody controlling possession and the match mostly being played in neutral areas. It should be slow as well, as Ireland is the oldest team in the tournament and Sweden isn`t particularly young either. Plus Ireland might miss at least one of two key strikers.
When you add the fact that the stakes are obviously huge at this level and nobody can afford to lose, I think it`s reasonable to expect a low scoring match, maybe a draw as well – though Ibrahimovic might score and be the difference maker yet again for Sweden. All in all, my tip here is under 2 goals to be scored, I`d say 0-0 or 0-1 for Sweden are the most likely scenarios. Prediction: Ireland – Sweden 0-0.
Pick: under 2 goals
Odds: 1.87 @ 18Bet
Stake: 7
Possible profit: 6.09
Event date: 13 June
Great preview as always Rostick. I disagree at the end..It’s true that nobody can afford to lose, but both need to win 3 points today as I don’t think that they will be favourite against Belgium or Italy. I think that this should be an “all-in” match..
That makes sense, but I think it`s true for the last few minutes. I think both sides would sign if they were given the option for the match to be 0-0 in the 80th minute. I think it might open up in the end, even if it`s 1-0 / 0-1 or a tie, but not earlier. Of course, anything can happen in sports, we`ll see.