Following an impressive victory over group favourites Belgium, Antonio Conte’s side now looks to continue its form with a victory against Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden, who themselves will come out firing following a 1-1 draw against the Irish.
New opponents, different tactics for the Azzurri
With what is currently considered by many as the weakest Azzurri side for some time, Conte’s men still managed to pull off a quite remarkable upset against a Belgian side that is Euro 2016’s highest ranked nation and one of the tournament’s favourites. In saying that, however, the result cannot be overly surprising when taking into consideration the Italians’ pedigree on the international stage and the renowned resolute and impervious nature of their defence in tournaments gone by.
Such resoluteness was displayed against the Belgians, with the Azzurri sitting back and soaking up plenty of attacking pressure applied by Marc Wilmot’s side, then breaking forward at pace and in numbers to devastate the Red Devils.
It is expected Conte’s charges will implement a different approach for the upcoming clash against the Swedes, mainly due to the fact the Scandinavian side does not boast sufficient talent to dominate the game and create many chances. Italy have the perfect opportunity to do just that, but will be unable to do so utilising their tactics from the first game.
Against a weaker side – with all due respect to Sweden – Italy are expected to apply different tactical instructions. Will it all work out for them is the question.
READ MORE: Euro 2016 – Group E Match Preview – Italy vs Sweden
Zlatan looking to have more of an impact
Despite providing the contribution that led to the equaliser in Sweden’s 1-1 draw against the Republic of Ireland, ‘Ibra’ was not at his dominant best. Marshalled well by John O’Shea and Ciaran Clark, the towering striker could not manage to muster even a single shot on target for his side.
If Erik Hamrén’s side wishes to get anything out of the upcoming clash against the Italians, the 34-year-old will need to be in top form, especially considering he and his teammates will be coming up against arguably the strongest defence in the tournament.
The Scandinavian outfit’s reliance on Ibrahimovic is staggering. He scored 11 of their 19 goals in qualifying – including three out of the four scored against Denmark in the playoff matches – and is the focal point of nearly all of their attacks.
Heroics similar to that of his acrobatic equaliser in Euro 2004 may be required in order for the Swedes to come away with anything from this encounter.
Key fixture for both nations
For Sweden to ensure advancement to the knockout stages, they must win at least one of their matches. That match would have ideally been against the Irish, though events did not transpire that way. Gaining at least a point against the Italians would see the Blågult go a long way to achieving the feat of reaching the round of 16 for their first time in a European Championship since 2004.
The Azzurri, by contrast, are under less pressure to deliver following their inspired victory against Belgium. In saying that, though, Conte’s side would be able to ensure their status in the tournament is preserved with a win over the Swedes. It would also help to dispell any issues surrounding Italy’s inconsistent nature – just look at their performances in the 2014 World Cup as an example – and help build the team’s winning culture in the tournament.
All of these factors add up to what could be a fascinating match at the Stadium Municipal on Friday.
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