TOULOUSE — Italy’s victory over Belgium was celebrated as a triumph of the team over individual talents, but Friday’s opponent Sweden is relying on the singular genius of frontman Zlatan Ibrahimovic to get its Euro 2016 campaign off the ground.
Italy had last won its opening match at a European Championship in 2000 — when it went on to reach the final — and having started strongly, Antonio Conte’s side is being talked of as contender once again.
While Italy’s team is regarded as one of its weakest in years, it makes up for it lack of star power with tactical nous, a flexibility of approach and an honest work ethic which proved too much for Belgium, which was beaten 2-0 in their opening Group E clash.
This is in stark contrast to Sweden’s supposed one-man band, which relies on the undoubted pedigree of Ibrahimovic, his country’s all-time leading scorer.
“Maybe we’re not who people said we were before the European Championship,” midfielder Alessandro Florenzi told reporters.
“Many are eating their words,” he added. “We’re focusing on the facts and leaving the talking to others.”
The tireless running of widemen Marco Parolo and Emanuele Giaccherini against Belgium typified Italy’s spirit of self-sacrifice and seemed a world away from Ibrahimovic’s trademark shrugs when passes failed to find him in Sweden’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Ireland.
However, memories of Ibrahimovic’s dazzling back-heeled volley against Italy at Euro 2004 and recollections of the 2014 World Cup — when the Azzurri fell at the first hurdle despite beating England in its opener — will prevent complacency.
Turkey needs Turan
Turkey needs captain Arda Turan to spring into action if it is to have a realistic chance of upsetting holder Spain in its Euro 2016 Group D match Friday.
Turan, off the pace and substituted after 65 minutes, was one of the most heavily criticized players when Turkey lost its opening match 1-0 to Croatia Sunday, going down with barely a whimper.
The Barcelona player produced very little in attack and not much in the way of tracking back either as Croatia overran the Turkish midfield. He later apologized to the Turkish public, acknowledging that he had played badly.
Spain has a 1-0 win over Czech Republic under its belts and it is hard to imagine any other scenario than the titleholder dominating possession and Turkey trying to snatch a goal on the break.
Croatia ready to seal last-16 berth
Rocked by a second family bereavement in three days, Croatia will be determined to seal a last-16 berth when it meets the Czech Republic in its Group D clash Friday, defender Domagoj Vida said.
Following the death of captain Darijo Srna’s father Sunday during Croatia’s 1-0 win over Turkey, the team’s media officer Tomislav Pacak said goalkeeping coach Marijan Mrmic’s father had also died Tuesday night.
Srna, accompanied by coach Ante Cacic, went to his father’s funeral Monday and returned to the team’s Deauville base camp in northern France ready to face the Czechs.
Vida, a tough-tackling centre back personifying Croatia’s willpower in the face of adversity, said the team would go the extra mile for its skipper and Mrmic, who travelled home early Wednesday.
However, the Czechs must come up with a bolder approach, having conceded a late goal against the Spaniards after working hard to contain the champions.
Striker Tomas Necid, who cut a lonely figure up front, said he hoped coach Pavel Vrba would field a more adventurous formation to haul them back into the race for a knockout stage berth.
