AS IRELAND ASSEMBLE in camp for their forthcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia, the preparations for Euro 2016 have very much begun in earnest.
There are just three months until the tournament begins in France and Martin O’Neill will no doubt be in the process of analysing each of Ireland’s group opponents.
With Sweden first up at the Stade de France on 13 June, the focus will be on formulating a game plan to stifle the threat of Zlatan Ibrahimović and start the campaign with three invaluable points.
And if O’Neill has seen footage of Andreas Isaksson’s latest performance, he’ll certainly be identifying the 34-year-old goalkeeper as a potential weak link.
The former Manchester City ‘keeper endured a nightmare at the weekend, conceding four goals in Kasimpasa’s clash with Bursaspor including this shocker.
Somehow Isaksson got himself in a complete muddle and let the most straightforward of back-passes past him.
https://vine.co/v/idt696AQI39
Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic will sit out Sweden’s upcoming friendly with Turkey as his coach Erik Hamren wants to save the 34-year-old’s energies for the Euro 2016.
“I’ve been thinking how best to preserve his energies for the summer. I have no say over his playing time in Paris so I’ve proposed to him that he sits out the Turkey game,” said Hamren ahead of the Thursday away tie.
The striker, however, is likely to play the 29 March friendly against the Czech Republic.
“That would be good for him and good for the team,” said the Sweden boss.
Ibrahimovic has just led Paris to a fourth straight League 1 title and the French side are also getting ready to tackle Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.
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