Republic of Ireland V Sweden - Monday, 13th June 2016 - Euro 2016 Group E

[OwlsFan]

The team for the opening game against Georgia was Forde; Coleman, O'Shea, Wilson, Ward; Walters, Whelan, McCarthy, Quinn, McGeady; Keane (C)

I expect the team to start against Sweden to have 5 changes but only really different players from the same squad. The only additions to the squad are Duffy and arguably Westwood. Judge and Arter may have been in but for injuries. I think it will be a stronger team though despite the fact that is only a reshuffling of the deckchairs. It is important that Walters plays.

[DannyInvincible]

Stephen Ward says the "buzz around the squad ... is outstanding": http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/stephen-ward-the-buzz-around-the-squad-is-outstanding-739366.html

Great stuff. Sounds like the players are well up for it and morale is high.

[shakermaker1982]

Sounds like Walters is struggling. Big loss and not much back up....

Safe journey to everybody setting off this weekend. See you all in Paris!

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Sounds like Walters is struggling. Big loss and not much back up....

Safe journey to everybody setting off this weekend. See you all in Paris!

If Doyle was brought instead of Keane like he should have been then it would have alleviated it somewhat.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Was looking forward to any two of Brady, McClean or Hendrick wide with Hoolahan in behind Long for just the one game but Walters is allegedly fit enough for the Sweden game now despite only being able to complete the most basic training exercises as of 24 hours ago: https://www.rte.ie/sport/euro-2016/2016/0611/794818-jon-walters-hands-ireland-fitness-boost/#comments.

Duffy could be a shock inclusion in the 11 according to Keane.

[seanfhear]

Re; Jonathan Walters, I don't think he should be risked in the first game of what is a 3 game series.

Even a win in the last game could get a team through, One win and one draw would be very likely to (I will defer to statistical experts on this)

So, Why risk a player recovering from injury in the first game. Playing a player carrying an injury also says to other players vying for that position ; Your not good enough ; Look we have to play the guy who is not 100% fit . Okay if its Maradona ...........

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I find it all very puzzling really. Long is the main man up front. And you're telling me McClean or Hendrick can't do a job on the right hand side of midfield and/or Brady can't move up to the left hand side of midfield?!

I'm not getting why mountains are being moved to accommodate Walters here.

It could just end up ruling him out of the tournament if things go arseways with his fitness again.

He is pushing 33. It would make his performance levels better if he is fresher for the Belgium game.

And as seanfhear says, the very format of the tournament makes it more unnecessary to take risks like this.

[Stuttgart88]

Relax FFS. If he was at his club and didn't train Monday to Thursday but was deemed fit for Saturday it'd be no big deal. If the game was yesterday they'd have tested him in training two days before that. The game is on Monday so they tested him today. Usual melodramatics methinks. I think TOWK is the only guy upset that our best player of the qualifying campaign is available. You'd swear he was a qualified physio. I've often been hobbling after a hard effort only to race at the best of my potential 3 days later.

It's funny how Walters gets slagged off for being allegedly injured and now he's getting slagged off by the same poster for being allegedly fit.

And I think Doyle should have been brought too as it happens but not instead of Keane.

[SwanVsDalton]

Fitness is a concern but it really shouldn't be forgotten that Walters was our best player in qualifying.

The fitness ghosts of 2012 loom large but the team doens't appear nearly as jaded or overtrained. It's a calculated risk worth taking if he's close to being ready. He's a crucial player.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

With Walters not in the team it might encourage us to get it down on the ground more and try to play some football. Then again it might mean Daryl Murphy comes in..

I question the fact that Walters with the age he is, the season he's had and continued fitness problems he manages can sustain 270 minutes of football in 8 days.

But he's a "naturally fit lad" as MONKeano say so I just have to trust their judgement.

[DannyInvincible]

I find it all very puzzling really. Long is the main man up front. And you're telling me McClean or Hendrick can't do a job on the right hand side of midfield and/or Brady can't move up to the left hand side of midfield?!

I'm not getting why mountains are being moved to accommodate Walters here.

What "mountains" are being moved? If he's fit (and it's in our best interests that he is, so he's being dealt with accordingly), he'll play. If he's not fit, he won't play.


But he's a "naturally fit lad" as MONKeano say so I just have to trust their judgement.

I sense that's sarcasm? Why wouldn't you trust their judgment? Do you think they're trying to hoodwink us or something? The difference is that they're there watching him every day and know him well. They also have a doctor and physios keeping an eye on him who, no doubt, have in-depth knowledge of the issue much superior to your own and how best to prepare him. You, on the other hand, tick none of those boxes, to the best of my knowledge.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Probably the mountains O'Neill and Keane themselves referred to when they said they are willing to give Walters more time than other players to prove his fitness.

Harry Arter played against Netherlands with an injury and look how that turned out.

[DannyInvincible]

The "mountains" then are them simply giving one of our key players time to prove his fitness? That's a pretty standard feature of football. You want to have your best team and you give your best players the necessary time. If they're fit, they're fit and they'll play.

There's absolutely nothing to lose by giving Walters time. What do you think we're losing by it exactly or who's it costing? It's not as if he's being transported around in a private jet to specialist doctors around the globe at tremendous cost to the FAI's purse just to improve this chance of being ready. They're just resting him from training and will make a judgement on Monday taking everything into account. I just don't see the problem. What's the issue?

The problem that caused Arter to pull out sprung up in training in Cork, no? He got through the Netherlands game, and he needed that game-time anyway if he was to play in the finals. Obviously it didn't work out in hindsight, but I don't think it's correct to imply the management knowingly played him with an injury, is it?

[Stuttgart88]

Arter said himself he played with the injury in Dublin but expected it to go away. It didn't and he aggravated it in training in Cork.

TOWK has a bee in his bonnet though. I'm not saying it's not a concern but he's in the company of experts who have clearly made a call. If it was Shane Long in the exact same situation he'd be reacting differently. Instead he just seeks the most sensational or damning interpretation of a sit station he has little detailed knowledge of. I don't have any better knowledge either but I do know it's common for players to play despite missing a week's training. Welsh rugby player Jamie Roberts said only this week that they don't train between tests, it's all about recovery. If Walters needs time for a minor injury to heal, so be it.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Arter said himself in a recent interview that he aggravated an injury he was already carrying before the Netherlands game. He went on to play that game and was duly ruled out of the tournament. McGoldrick had played several Championship games by the time we played Netherlands yet he still clearly wasn't fully match fit for that game and O'Neill hinted at as much.

There is the possibility that Walters may have rushed himself back for Stoke before he was fully ready because Euro 2016. Just like Arter, this may have contributed to his aggravating an injury and/or picking up niggles.

Just like McGoldrick, he looked leggy against Netherlands.

The talk now is if Walters can get through the next 24 hours without any reactions. What if a reaction comes during a game and we have to make a substitution after 5 minutes and God forbid he's ruled out of the tournament?

It's a squad game and as seanfhear says stuff like this just smacks of not having confidence in the alternatives to step in and deputise - which I think they are fully capable of doing.

I don't think the omens look favorably on his completing all 3 games. I think it would be wiser to include him for the Belgium game.

But I trust O'Neill has a bit more flexibility when it comes to making the right decisions re: these things than Trapattoni who perservered with several players who were clearly not fully fit during all 3 games in Poland.

[TrapAPony]

The talk now is if Walters can get through the next 24 hours without any reactions. What if a reaction comes during a game and we have to make a substitution after 5 minutes and God forbid he's ruled out of the tournament?

It's a squad game and as seanfhear says stuff like this just smacks of not having confidence in the alternatives to step in and deputise - which I think they are fully capable of doing.


If Walters isn't fit we can just play McClean or push Brady up and put Ward left back. I think we have enough options all the same.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

The "worst" referee, the man who booked half our outfield players against Scotland, will be the referee on Monday.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/euro-2016-ireland-run-disciplinary-8164830#ICID=ios_IrishMirrorNewsApp_AppShare_Click _Other

[Stuttgart88]

Some tension in the Swedish camp?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/euro-2016/2016/0611/794868-sweden-close-ranks-ahead-of-ireland-showdown/

[SwanVsDalton]

Wouldn't be the first time.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On4t0ZKi3F4

[Stuttgart88]

Wales win with some players they took a fitness gamble on. Baffling.

[shakermaker1982]

Great old laugh today. Met loads of lovely Croats, Swedish and Swiss in Paris. Enjoyed the Croatia game as well. Modric was class.

Ronnie Whelan and Brian Kerr in the house as well over in O'Sullivans.

Still going for a 1-1. A win and we would be through...

[Fixer82]

Great old laugh today. Met loads of lovely Croats, Swedish and Swiss in Paris. Enjoyed the Croatia game as well. Modric was class.

Ronnie Whelan and Brian Kerr in the house as well over in O'Sullivans.

Still going for a 1-1. A win and we would be through...

O'Sullivan's by the Mill, a great spot! Do a daycint Spaghetti Bolognese

#soakage

[Kingdom]

What I'd go for:

Westwood,
Coleman, Duffy, Clark, Ward
Whelan
Walters McCarthy Hoolahan Brady
Long

[seanfhear]

What I'd go for:

Westwood,
Coleman, Duffy, Clark, Ward
Whelan
Walters McCarthy Hoolahan Brady
LongNot bad. Has the Ward/Brady combination being tried in a meaningful game. A bit too soon to expose Duffy (international experience) to Zlatan Ibra........

A kind of a no win situation for the management re; Westwood/Randolf.......If either makes a mistake their is the obvious case for saying the other should have played.....and its not as if we don't have motormouths on rte to point out the blatantly obvious (particularly in hindsight)....(Dumbfy )

[NeverFeltBetter]

Butterflies seriously starting now. Can't stop imagining a repeat of 2012.

[seanfhear]

Butterflies seriously starting now. Can't stop imagining a repeat of 2012.
Gird your loins (whatever that means)...Once more into the Fray....this is what its all about.......

[DannyInvincible]

We've never lost in the Stade de France. In fact, any time we've played there, we've played excellently. We drew 0-0 with France in 2004 and beat them over 90 minutes in 2009. Of course, the opposition isn't the same, but maybe we can go one better and steal a victory this time. I'm saying at least a draw. I don't think we'll lose.

There seems to be a lot of people around the squad thinking/reporting that they have a feeling Duffy will start. Would be his competitive debut, so best of luck to him, if so.

I've a feeling O'Neill might show a bit of courage and select Westwood too. Although I should say that I had a dream the other night in which Westwood was pulling off amazing saves in training, which really impressed O'Neill. That could well be influencing me!

[thischarmingman]

http://i.imgur.com/UqbcYt2.jpg

[Kingdom]

We've never lost in the Stade de France. In fact, any time we've played there, we've played excellently. We drew 0-0 with France in 2004 and beat them over 90 minutes in 2009. Of course, the opposition isn't the same, but maybe we can go one better and steal a victory this time. I'm saying at least a draw. I don't think we'll lose.

There seems to be a lot of people around the squad thinking/reporting that they have a feeling Duffy will start. Would be his competitive debut, so best of luck to him, if so.

I've a feeling O'Neill might show a bit of courage and select Westwood too. Although I should say that I had a dream the other night in which Westwood was pulling off amazing saves in training, which really impressed O'Neill. That could well be influencing me!

The FAI were even instagramming video's of Westwood's amazing saves over the weekend.

Part of me wants the team to be attack-minded, purely because I don't think we're either the quality or the established defensive mindset in our back 5 to sit in tight. The centre-half situation is all a bit meh at the moment, I really don't think Zlatan will be bothered by any of them, but I think offensive set-pieces will be crucial, and in that respect, John O'Shea is the worst of the four. Without trying to slate him, I don't think he is that pivotal either defensively to be considered a certainty to start. Plus I much prefer the righty/lefty partnership.

I missed Euro 2012, and have never seen any footage of it, so this is my first tournament in an age, and cannot wait for kick-off. I really hope that the squad continues where they left off in the autumn.

[TrapAPony]

I'd go for:

................Westwood,

Coleman... O'Shea....Clark....Brady

...........Whelan... McCarthy

Walters... Hoolahan... McClean

................ Long



What I think MON will pick :


.................Randolph

Coleman... O'Shea....Duffy....Brady

...........Whelan... McCarthy

Walters... Hoolahan... Hendrick

................ Long

[Metrostars]

Good luck today , hope the guys here from foot.ie who are at the game have a great time!

[Philly]

I'm feeling weirdly optimistic. The Belarus game aside, which was a weakened side, this team has being coming together very nicely and playing good football. There's a sense of purpose that wasn't there in 2012, yet less expectation on their backs too.

I'm going for a 2-0 victory - Zlatan tamed, and Shane Long / Brady providing the goals.

This is all based on nothing but my imagination, but fingers crossed.

[SkStu]

See you all on the other side. Remember, I love you all.

[Closed Account]

Darren Randolph



Seamus Coleman



Ciaran Clark



John O'Shea



Robbie Brady



Glenn Whelan



James McCarthy



Jeff Hendrick



Jonathan Walters



Wes Hoolahan



Shane Long




Ara what did they pick *him* for, he's puck, and the other fella is way better and them other fellas should be there at all. Feck it lads, feck it all.

The Rte player keeps on cutting in and out of 'Cool Runnings' http://www.rte.ie/live/ , surely a good omen? Feel the rythym lads.

[SwanVsDalton]

Surprised but happy enough to see Clark. Brady and Hoolahan the right choices. This is a side set up to go for a win. Let's hope it happens. COYBIG!

[TrapAPony]

Sweden team: Isaksson, Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Olsson; Larsson, Kallstrom, Lewicki, Forsberg; Ibrahimovic, Berg

[Closed Account]

Formation according to UEFA (official teamsheets have a shape on them)
http://i.imgur.com/0NemGSX.png

[texidub]

Anbody found a good link for the game? cricfree.tv isn't turning up anything great

COYBIG!

[seanfhear]

Attacking team with Hoolahan in there. Might as well go for the win here. That 4-4 prediction is looking a dead cert now.

[Closed Account]

Anbody found a good link for the game? cricfree.tv isn't turning up anything great

COYBIG!
https://www.filmon.com/tv/bbc1 one will have BBC coverage.
I'll look for an Rte.

[rebelmusic]

http://livestream-s.info/video/463278.html#

For RTE

[texidub]

http://livestream-s.info/video/463278.html#

For RTE

works great.. thanks rebelmusic, joe_denilson

[tricky_colour]

Thought that was in - Brady strike

[tricky_colour]

Omfg!!

[nigel-harps1954]

A solid half. Need to take some of these chances, but solid. Sweden are there for the taking.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Those four misses are going to haunt us when this is all said and done, I just know it. O'Shea's especially. Other than that trifling concern, it's all been quite good. Defence has held up, bar Coleman's brief slip, Randolph looks confident, Hendrick doing well. Swedes forced into an early change, might disrupt the HT plans.

Pitch starting to resemble Jackman. Wonder who that suits?

[SkStu]

Whelan has been fcking immense. There I said it.

McCarthy has been poison, as has Coleman on the ball. Walters, Long getting very little change from the Swedish defense. Overall a fantastic performance. The goals must come.

[NeverFeltBetter]

They said something like, Zlatan scores or makes 75% of Sweden's goals, so when he is kept quiet, as he has so far, Sweden look decidedly ordinary. Got to keep him quiet for the full 90 though. Want to vomit with the nerves.

[Closed Account]

Will people stop saying nice things about our performance. Making me I'll with nerves.

[tricky_colour]

We need to take our chances, you can bet Sweden will take theirs when they get a decent one!