13 June,2016 08:33 AM IST | | AFP
Republic of Ireland must somehow silence superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic when they open their Euro 2016 campaign against Sweden at the Stade de France today
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Paris: Republic of Ireland must somehow silence superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic when they open their Euro 2016 campaign against Sweden at the Stade de France today.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Pic/AFP
In a Group E also containing Italy and much-fancied Belgium, a defeat for either side could be a decisive blow to their prospects of reaching the last 16.
At 34, Manchester United target Ibrahimovic is probably gracing a major international tournament for the last time after scoring 11 times during qualifying for Erik Hamren's men.
"He's a good player but you can't single him out because they have others who can score goals, as they proved against Wales when there were three goal-scorers and he wasn't one of them," reasoned Ireland's veteran goalkeeper Shay Given.
"Still he's a fantastic player, one of the best centre-forwards in the world, but we've got to keep him quiet and the rest of them quiet as well."
