Republic of Ireland 1-1 Sweden: EURO 2016 Group E Report

The Republic of Ireland began their 2016 European Championship campaign with a point against Sweden at the Stade de France.

Wes Hoolahan struck just after the break to give the Green Army the lead, but Irish hearts were broken when Ciaran Clark nodded into his own net to bring the Swedes level as the boys in Green were forced to settle for a draw.

The Group E encounter started scrappily with chances few and far between; but the boys in Green, roared on by a passionate Irish following, began the stronger and they were very nearly rewarded in the ninth minute when Jeff Hendrick stung the palms of Andreas Isaksson after the Derby County man had made a yard of room for himself before sending a rocket of a shot goalwards.

Hoolahan gave Ireland the lead shortly after half-time – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

The Blagult were struggling to match the intensity of their Irish counterparts, and they could have found themselves behind before the break, Hendrick was the man to go close again after curling an effort towards goal from distance – only to see his shot cannon against the bar.

Sweden’s main man Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked a frustrated figure up top on his own as the Irish restricted the Swedish poster boy to just a shot from range straight into an Irish wall from a free-kick. Indeed, the Irish looked the more likely to score as the game went on.

And moments after the break they did break the deadlock after more good work down the right by Everton’s Seamus Coleman, jinking past his man to ascend into the box and produce a delicious dink to Hoolahan, who struck a brilliant half volley towards goal and past Isaksson to give Ireland the lead.

That goal seemed to wake the Swedes up and they nearly produced an equaliser immediately after a dangerous ball into the box went all the way through to force a clever save from West Ham’s Darren Randolph, but Emil Forsberg failed to turn the ball home on the rebound.

It was beginning to turn into a scrappy encounter; which suited the men in gold, and with time ticking away, disaster struck for the Irish.

Danger man Ibrahimovic broke down the left after some neat build-up play, the Swedish superstar drilled a ball across the box which the unfortunate Clark could only nod past the despairing Randolph to level the game up at one apiece.

Clark headed past his own goalkeeper, Randolph, to gift Sweden their equaliser – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

The boys in Green showed heart though and broke up the other end straight after the restart and almost regained the lead as Hendrick found space in the box, only to see his effort comfortably saved by the Swedish number one.

The Irish began to tire as the encounter went on and the Swedes looked more likely to grab a winner, but the Green Army’s defence stood strong to deny Ibrahimovic & Co. and grab a point in their opening Group E match of EURO 2016.

Man of the Match: Wes Hoolahan

The Norwich City midfielder scored a beauty of a half-volley to smash the Irish into a deserved lead. He; like his teammates, worked tirelessly, but he produced the game’s magic moment.

What’s Next?

After a promising showing in their opening encounter against Sweden, the Irish face Belgium on Saturday, whilst Sweden tackle Italy on Friday.