This was everything Martin O’Neill wanted from his Republic of Ireland side, with the horrible exception of the result. As good as the performance was, as impressive as they were, the draw against Sweden means they are already in trouble in their group.
Ireland remain alive in the European Championship’s Group of Death, but with games against the highest-ranked team in the tournament, Belgium, and traditional heavyweights Italy to come, they should be in far better health.
If only Ireland had taken their chances in the first half. If only they had managed to add to Wes Hoolahan’s sumptuous half-volley at the start of the second half. If only John O’Shea had not got his feet in a tangle six yards from goal, if only Jeff Hendrick’s shot, that crashed against the bar, had been a few millimetres lower.
If only Ciaran Clark could have avoided directing a clearing header into his own goal, just when it seemed the Irish defence had repelled Sweden’s late fightback. If only they could have taken full advantage of the fact they kept Sweden’s superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic so quiet.
In the end, Zlatan made his mark. It was his clever one-two, dart past O’Shea and cross from the by-line that caused Clark to head into his own net, but he did not, as he claimed he always did when delivering his usual splash of pre-match hype, dominate Ireland’s defenders.
Sweden did not manage a single shot on target from one of their own players. That tells a story that will, sadly be lost, if Ireland do not reach the last 16.
This was an unrecognisable Irish performance compared to four years ago. On that occasion, in an equally tough group, Giovanni Trapattoni’s side failed to turn up. They were knocked out after two games, conceded nine goals and scored just one.
O’Neill’s Ireland have come to compete and, if they play as well as this against Belgium and Italy, they might just still have enough to progress. This is a team that took four points off world champions Germany in qualifying and O’Neill argued they have got better since then.
“I thought the players were magnificent,” said O’Neill. “We played some really great football and we should have been in the lead at half-time, we were very dominant.
“There is disappointment in the dressing room, but I don’t think they should be downhearted. They should be thrilled by what they achieved.
“We should have three points on the board, instead of one, and we are going to have to do something special against two very, very classy teams.
“But if I can take anything from today, it’s that the players looked really accomplished at this level. We have players who are growing into international football, they are improving and that’s great.”
In the end a draw was not great for either side. Sweden felt this was a game they had to win, as much as Ireland did given the quality of the other two nations in Group E, but it was the boys in green who played the better football.
Hendrick had been denied by a good save before he hit the bar with a curling shot from 30 yards. Robbie Brady also clipped the top of the net with an effort from the edge of the area, although O’Shea will be haunted by the fact he somehow failed to make contact with a flick on from Clark inside the six yard box.
Ibrahimovic was anonymous in the first half, but when Sweden needed their talisman he found something special yet again.
Ireland had finally made their pressure count at the start of the second half. Seamus Coleman was the architect, feigning to cross from the right, a dummy allowing him to advance into the area before chipping the ball to the far post.
Hoolahan anticipated its flight, pulling away from the crowd and swept a first time shot past Isaksson. It was a brilliant goal, but it sparked Sweden into life.
They had to attack and, having forced a series of corners, they could have equalised within minutes of falling behind when Clark sliced an attempted clearance, which required a sharp save from Darren Randolph.
The danger, though, was not over and Ireland’s defence could only watch as Emil Forsberg drilled the loose ball wide.
Passive for so long, Sweden were a different team. Ireland, so cool and calm, became twitchy, nervous and mistake-ridden. Ibrahimovic went close with an instinctive swing of his boot after O’Shea had missed a header and then he struck.
A little exchange of passes, little burst beyond O’Shea to the byline and with Seb Larsson ready to pounce behind him, Clark could only nod the cross into his own net.
It was a painful blow to take just as Ireland’s legs – they have the oldest squad in the tournament – were clearly starting to tire. Hendrick might have restored their lead almost immediately, but scuffed a shot and the game petered out into a draw.
“Credit to Ireland, but our attack was really, really bad,” said Sweden manager Erik Hamren. “We were too immobile.
“When they scored we started to play better, possibly because Ireland drifted back. It's good we didn't lose, but we’re disappointed that we didn't play at the level we should be able to do.”
Source : Telegraph
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