We Need to Talk About Kevin…and 9 Other Points

We Need to Talk About Kevin…and 9 Other Points

Temperatures are plummeting in Stockholm and news of Trapattoni’s starting eleven has met a frosty reception among Irish fans. Much of their ire is directed at the inclusion of Paul Green in midfield but amidst the clamour to condemn the manager, Trapattoni has named possibly his most adventurous team since taking charge of the Republic. He’s also pulled off something of a transformation of the Irish squad that failed so badly in Poland. Ahead of the crunch tie with Sweden, here’s ten key talking points.

Last Meeting: Swede Disposition

It was Steve Staunton’s first game in charge and a 3-0 win over Sweden threatened to usher in a new era in Irish football. It proved to be a false dawn. Will Friday’s World Cup clash in Stockholm see the sun begin to set on Giovanni Trapattoni’s reign or reignite our ambitions to reach Brazil in 2014?

He is Zlatan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the man we must shackle if we are to have any chance of taking something from Stockholm. With a career that’s taken in some of the world’s top clubs, Ireland will be up against it to stifle the Swedish captain, but our own form striker Robbie Keane’s record measures favourably against the PSG hit-man.

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