REPORTAGE FROM MAJOR sporting events often varies from country to country.
Most Irish media have hailed last night’s 1-1 draw with Sweden as a positive opener to their Euro 2016 campaign, but also argue that they should have secured three points.
We took a look at other major media outlets, both in Sweden and elsewhere, to see how they reacted to the result.
Sweden
Swedish website The Local claimed that Sweden dominated the majority of the fixture but that they should be content with a single point.
Their intro read:
An own goal from Republic of Ireland defender Ciaran Clark saved Sweden the embarrassment of losing their opening match of Euro 2016, with the Group E game finishing 1-1.”
They described Sweden’s defending for Hoolihan’s goal as “chaotic” and labelled the strike as “excellent”.
The Local claimed that Sweden started the brighter of the two sides and dominated for the majority of the first half, contrary to much Irish reaction.
“The Scandinavians seemed to sleepwalk their way through the start of the second half, and Martin O’Neill’s more energetic team were happy to take advantage.
“The Blågult could be content to take their solitary point, as they failed to register even a single shot on target in 90 minutes.”
Another Swedish newspaper, Expressen, published reaction from Swedish defender Martin Olsson.
“We are still a little annoyed. Everyone knows that we should have done it much better” Olsson said. “We woke up after their goal, but it was a little too late. We should have started the game that way.”
Another article praised the Irish performance and heavily criticised Sweden’s efforts.
Instead, it was Ireland who were dominant during most of the match and Sweden were rescued by an own goal.
They continued to report that Sweden were mocked throughout international media after the game.”Zlatan had been better if he had chosen to play for Croatia, his mother’s homeland, instead,” according to the Italian Gazzetta dello Sport.
Another Swedish newspaper summed up their performance in three simple words – “Vi saknar kvalitet” meaning “We lack quality”.
England
“This was everything Martin O’Neill wanted from his Republic of Ireland side, with the horrible exception of the result. As good as the performance was, as impressive as they were, the draw against Sweden means they are already in trouble in their group” Luke Edwards wrote for the Telegraph.
“O’Neill’s Ireland have come to compete and, if they play as well as this against Belgium and Italy, they might just still have enough to progress.”
The Guardian wrote about Ireland’s positive performance until they lost their one goal lead.
“The Republic of Ireland have not had much luck at the European Championship or, indeed, at this stadium but, for a brief period on a pulsating evening, Martin O’Neill’s players looked set to etch their names into history. They had dominated this Group E opener and, when Wes Hoolahan put them in front with a sumptuous half-volley, they could begin to dream.
“When Hoolahan struck, everything looked rosy. The truth was that they ought to have been further ahead.”
“From a position of strength, Ireland imploded. None of their players have been in this situation before – leading, and in a convincing way, on such a grand stage – and it was possible to lament their lack of streetwise game management.”
Italy
Football Italia said that Ireland deserved to take the lead and that Sweden were “accidentally gifted” an equaliser after they were “utterly uninspired” in the first half.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport‘s headline Italy have little to fear after last night’s result. Gazzetta World also rated Wes Hoolahan highly, saying he stole the show for Ireland.
Belgium
The Belgian sports website Sporza reported that the match ended in a “fair draw”.
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