Irish players should have no fear of “in decline” Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to former Republic of Ireland captain Kenny Cunningham.
Martin O’Neill’s side face the Swedes in their opening game of Euro 2016, with ‘Ibra’ pinpointed as the main threat from the Scandinavian outfit.
Speaking on the new RTÉ Soccer podcast The Panel, available on Soundcloud and iTunes (or search 'The Panel RTÉ'), Cunningham said there are ways for the defenders in green to stifle the striker.
"As long as we engage the ball higher up the pitch, keep him as far away from the goal as possible, you can negate his influence."
“I think he in decline; he is 34 years of age and not the player that he was. For every outstanding game that you can remember him playing, there have been quite a few others where he has been pretty much redundant.
“He is still a very dangerous player but a player that if we can contain to a certain extent, I really do fancy our chances. It is a very disciplined, organised and workmanlike Swedish team. When I look at their team, I see a lot more creativity and attacking threat in our team than I do in their team.
“He is a big personality in the dressing-room but his individual qualities, which are the most important thing, can be controlled and can be contained.
"He is not the type of player that has huge explosive speed and can really frighten you to death. He has very good individual ability but I think he is a player that maybe you can’t contain one v one but collectively as a defensive unit you can restrict him in his influence on the game.
“As long as we engage the ball higher up the pitch, keep him as far away from the goal as possible, you can negate his influence.”
Brian Kerr, also a guest on The Panel, said that Ibrahimovic’s role in the side has altered in recent years.
“In the game in Stockholm [against Ireland during the World Cup 2014 qualification campaign], I was looking at him and saying, 'when is he going to do something in the match?' He did very little, I think he had one good opportunity in the match and fluffed it.
“In the second game in Dublin, he started dropping off the front and had much more of an impact in the team. I believe he has become much more of a leader and a go-to man in the team.
“There is respect from the players rather than the prima donna type player he appeared to me at times.”
