Republic of Ireland 1 Sweden 1: Zlatan Ibrahimovic robs Ireland of night to remember by forcing Ireland into an own goal at Euro 2016 opener

THIS was a real chance missed for the Republic.
Playing well and in the lead, they were heading for three points and maybe even the next round.

The fact they could not see the match out was described by manager Martin O’Neill as “a massive disappointment”.
He added that his side had “played brilliantly” — and that, in the end, is what is most galling.
They had not even allowed Sweden a single shot on target all night as their goal came from the head of Ciaran Clark.
Yet still the Boys in Green’s progression from Group E is in the balance now with Belgium and Italy to come — much better sides than they faced last night.
Sweden had one player and the ‘legend’ swore he could still deliver — you just knew he would come back to haunt O’Neill.
It is probably why the Republic boss was so irritated by the question in the run-up to this game.

You know, the one about why ten years ago he called Zlatan Ibrahimovic the most “overrated player on the planet”.
On the basis of most of last night, few would have argued with a similar assertion a decade on.
But there was one moment and it proved key.
Receiving a backheel from substitute John Guidetti, he suddenly beat John O’Shea to the byline inside the box and dinked over a cross.
Clark was forced to intervene with Sebastian Larsson on his shoulder but was unlucky as he headed the ball past Darren Randolph.
Mind you, he had a good go in the first half at an own goal, with only a brilliant save by Randolph denying him then.
So there, in an instant, all of Ireland’s good work was undone — and it had been very good.

In the first half, their commitment saw them win nearly every ball and chances were created as they hit the bar and brushed the roof of Sweden’s net. O’Shea also came desperately close to getting a touch on a ball that would have diverted it beyond Andreas Isaksson and into the goal.
Robbie Brady’s delivery and execution was a real stand-out for the Republic before the break and when he swung in one of his left-wing corners, Clark got the head on.
O’Shea read the flick and stretched out a foot to the ball but one would just not connect with the other.

Brady came close when he cut inside from the left after receiving a ball from Jeff Hendrick and the space opened up.
The shot was true but cries of joy were stifled in the throat when it was clear the ball had hit the top of the net rather than the underside. Ireland’s play was quick and incisive while Sweden were slow and ponderous, with Ibrahimovic eased away from any dangerous situations by O’Neill’s well-drilled side.
The manager’s only frustration was that they were unable to turn their dominance into a lead and he was left hopping in frustration again on 32 minutes.

Hendrick played a one-two with Shane Long and his 20-yard effort dropped over the outstretched hand of Isaksson but crashed back off the crossbar.
Ireland went into the break with their tails up and, three minutes after the restart, they got their goal — and what a goal it was.
It was created by Seamus Coleman as the Everton star turned his man inside out and crossed.
Wes Hoolahan stormed onto the ball and expertly delivered a powerful curling finish on the half-volley.
O’Neill leapt to the air as the roof lifted at one end of the Stade de France.
While Sweden woke up, they still could not break the Republic’s resolve until the 71st minute.
Even then, Hendrick immediately had a chance at the restart to regain the lead, only to shoot straight at keeper Isaksson.
The Republic fans had been revving up for a party for much of this game and deserved one, too.
They have not won a match at a major finals for 14 years and had produced a display that warranted one — but in the end it all felt a bit flat.
As O’Neill said, his players looked “accomplished”. But when he wakes at his Versailles base this morning, he knows he will have to draw an even better performance from his side against Belgium on Saturday to have a good chance of progressing.

DREAM TEAM RATINGS
 REP OF IRELAND: Randolph 6, Coleman 7, O’Shea 6, Clark 6, Brady 7, McCarthy 6 (McGeady 85, 6), Whelan 7, Hendrick 7, STAR MAN HOOLAHAN 7 (Keane 78, 5), Walters 6 (McClean 64, 6), Long 6. Booked: Whelan, McCarthy.
 SWEDEN: Isaksson 6, Lustig 6 (Johansson 46, 6), Lindelof 6, Granqvist 7, Olsson 7, Larsson 6, Lewicki 6 (Ekdal 86, 6), Kallstrom 7, Forsberg 6, Berg 6 (Guidetti 59, 5), Ibrahimovic 6. Booked: Lindelof.