PARIS,June 13: "Why do you carry on playing?" Zlatan received this question from a French journo, during Sweden's press conference before the game Republic of Ireland. "The legend can still deliver" Swedish captain who have won 13 league titles in 14 seasons for different European clubs answered in style.
The 34 years old central forward added "I have been dominating wherever I go, I have no issue about that. I will continue dominating,"
Ireland have never beaten Sweden in competitive action, Martin O'Neill need to come up with clever game plan to stop Zlatan Ibrahimović if he wants to avoid another European defeat.
O'Neil beleives that his young guns can upset SWeden, ex Aston Villa manager who once said that Zlatan is most over rated player told in press conference,"We've got some very,very fine players who I think are ready to do well in the competition."
Team news
Republic of Ireland
Martin O'Neill have full fit squad as Robbie Keane and James McCarthy, who were out due to respective calf and hamstring injuries are available for selection.
Euro 2016 preview : Belgium vs Republic of Ireland: Must win f...
Former Aston Vila headcoach is likely to go with traditional 4-4-2 playing system, with two wingers out on wide and strikers upfront.
James McCarthy and Hendrick are expected to play in central midfield to hold the game possesion and create goalscoring chances for Shane LOng and Walters.
Likely playing XI
Randolph; Coleman, O'Shea, Keogh, Brady; Whelan, McCarthy, Hendrick, Hoolahan; Walters, Long.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first):LDDWWDLWWW
Sweden
Erik Hamrén,Swedish head coach also likey to field the team in similar 4-4-2 system, with two tricky wingers Larsson and Forsberg out on wide,and Ibrahimović and Berg,two central forwards upfront.
Sweeden will look to play long range passes from wide to 18 yard box, with hope of Zlatan picking up them.
Likely playing XI
Isaksson; Lustig, Johansson, Granqvist, Olsson; Larsson, Lewicki, Källström, Forsberg; Ibrahimović, Berg.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first):WDDLDWWWLL
Head-to-head:
-The Republic of Ireland have won three of 10 matches against Sweden,losing five of those games.
-They are winless in six competitive encounters with the Swedes (D2, L4), although none of those games were at major tournaments.
-The teams met in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. They drew 0-0 in Solna before Sweden won 2-1 in Dublin.
-Sweden have failed to score in three of their last four games against the Republic of Ireland.
Some notable stats and facts:
-Sweden have won 50% of their encounters with the Republic of Ireland (5 out of 10), drawing twice and losing three times.
-The Republic of Ireland and Sweden are facing each other in a major tournament for the first time.
-This will be the Republic of Ireland's third appearance at the Euro finals after 1988 and 2012. They have never gone past the group stages.
-Ibrahimovic has never scored in three games played against the Republic of Ireland.
-Ibrahimovic could become - along with Cristiano Ronaldo - the first player to score in four different editions of the European Championships. He is also only three goals short of Michel Platini's record in the tournament (9 goals).
-Robbie Keane has scored two goals in three starts against Sweden.
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