Season › 2015-16 › News Blues' Irish contingent held to draw by Sweden , 13 June, 26comments | Jump to most recent Seamus Coleman's assist helped Ireland score the opening goal in a 1-1 draw Seamus Coleman served up the opening goal for Ireland but they had to be content with a point against Sweden after Kieran Clark's own goal. Both Coleman and James McCarthy started in what turned out to be an even game, albeit one that Martin O'Neill's men will feel disappointed not to have won. Jeff Hendrick curled an excellent effort off the bar and both John O'Shea and Shane Long came within inches of connecting in front of goal as the Irish carved out the better chances in the first half. It was Coleman's trickery in the Sweden box and a delicately chipped cross that laid on the first goal, however, with Wes Hoolahan hammering home a crisp first-time shot. The goal sparked Sweden into action and after Danny Rudolph had made an excellent one-handed save to turn a dreadful miskick from an Ireland defender away from goal, Zlatan Ibrahimovich forced the equaliser with 20 minutes left. The striker crossed from the byline and Clark could only head into his own net with Seb Larsson lunging to convert behind him. McCarthy, who had a quiet game overall, was substituted with five minutes to go in favour of his Everton team-mate Aiden McGeady but although the Irish restricted Sweden to no shots on target in the entire 90 minutes, they had to settle for a point. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku and highly-fancied Belgium play Italy in the game of the day in the evening game in Lyon. Lukaku has been in rich scoring form in the Red Devils' recent friendlies and is likely to be named up front by Marc Wilmots. Euro2016 Live Forum Reader Comments (26) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Andy Doyle 1 Posted 13/06/2016 at 07:58:17 It will be very interesting to watch Rom from a different kind of perspective today. His attitude work rate etc. And how his teammates feed him. Compared to how it's panned out this season. Ian Burns 2 Posted 13/06/2016 at 09:55:12 I would be surprised if Lukaku's dad allowed him to play against the Italians!Good luck to Seamus and Macca - and of course the ROI. Olalekan Taofik 3 Posted 13/06/2016 at 10:21:07 I wish all Evertonians in Euro2016 the best of luck. Eugene Kearney 4 Posted 13/06/2016 at 10:36:36 COYBIG ! Nick Entwistle 5 Posted 13/06/2016 at 10:46:00 Its an afternoon kick-off so will only have to be a virtual drinking game but the Irish provide commentators with many lazy bingo soundbites.Luck of the IrishTournament's party teamGuinness. They will always mention Guinness Irish eyes are smilingBars and Clubs of DublinFantastic support...'You wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of Roy Keane's stare' will be my moment to crack open the beers for real. Tony Hill 6 Posted 13/06/2016 at 11:04:18 Yes good luck to ROI, since our English lads won't get a game this is where our interest lies. I'm afraid I'm not thinking of Lukaku as a Blue at the moment. Colin Glassar 7 Posted 13/06/2016 at 11:12:13 Good luck to both Irish teams and the Welsh. Brian Hennessy 8 Posted 13/06/2016 at 11:19:00 Good chance our former Blue Shane Duffy will get the nod after his display against the Dutch Frank Wade 9 Posted 13/06/2016 at 13:05:51 Interesting quote from Seamus Coleman in the Sunday Times, Irish version, talking about the Irish squad. "They are great lads. You could trust them with your life. As an example, if you make a mistake, Jonny Walters in front of you, he is going to break his back to get back for you. Shane Long will make a bad ball into a good ball and that is all-important. There is nobody in the squad who thinks they are higher than anyone else."Anyone else reading between the lines ?COYBIG Geoff Risebrow 10 Posted 13/06/2016 at 13:27:19 Good luck Seamus and Macca. I fancy the Irish to win. Nick Entwistle 11 Posted 13/06/2016 at 13:46:30 The match is more than three hours away and I'm going to have to open a beer. Cliché achieved. Jay Harris 12 Posted 13/06/2016 at 14:45:30 What only one Nick? Andy Meighan 13 Posted 13/06/2016 at 15:39:24 I hope Seamus gets the winner for them. At least our club will still be represented because I can't really see that shite England getting out of the group anyway. Their moronic fans might do the job for them. I'd love to see the gobs on Milner, Henderson and Lallana when Slovakia put the final nail in the coffin. Funny isn't it. For an ordinary side league wise they are always represented at England level quite well. I wonder why that is... Mick Davies 14 Posted 13/06/2016 at 16:58:32 Ian @ 2, almost choked reading that. Funniest comment I've seen on here for years . . . . good luck to James and Seamus (and of course, if he gets on the field, Aiden, who is still a blue - for now). And to local lad and former Gwladys St season ticket holder Jon Walters COYIB Adam Gough 15 Posted 13/06/2016 at 20:46:39 Just watching Mr Lukaku's son on TV. Unlike most dads he chose not to spend time in the back garden working on his first touch or instilling a hard work ethic. 30 mins in — Rom's first chase. 40 mins in — Rom's first first touch that wasn't followed by a 50/50... He is showing he is not Charlie big potatoes. Andy Crooks 16 Posted 13/06/2016 at 20:52:43 The game should have been won by half time. I thought Seamus had a fine game with a magnificent assist for a superb goal.Still, much to play for. Trevor Lynes 17 Posted 13/06/2016 at 20:53:16 The standard between the Irish and Sweden is like our non league...very poor with lots of really aimless long balls.. Andy Crooks 18 Posted 13/06/2016 at 21:02:11 Trevor, what are you talking about. Both goals involved quality play and I would expect the Ireland goal to be a contender for goal of the tournament. Adam Gough 19 Posted 13/06/2016 at 21:16:10 I've just figured it out... Rom wants to stay! No-one will sign him at this rate... clever bigger. Adam Gough 20 Posted 13/06/2016 at 21:19:18 And because he doesn't put a shift in, the Italian defenders have all day to pick out dreamy 60-yard balls... Loving Chiellini, the old dog. Pelle on the other hand is looking very tasty. Andy Meighan 21 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:05:58 Bit harsh, Trev. I normally like your posts. But I personally thought it was a good game. Yes, the Irish tired towards the end but, with one of the oldest squads there, it was only to be expected. On another note. What about Lukaku for the Belgians?!?! Dear oh dear... We ll be lucky to get our money back. As Lineker said... Abject — Summed him up to be honest. Hate to repeat myself but vastly vastly overrated. Christy Ring 22 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:54:13 Can't see us getting the money we're looking for, after abysmal performance tonight, but would love to see Koeman bring Pelle in. Phil Grayston 23 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:30:54 Christy- I'd love to see someone bring Koeman in Paul Conway 24 Posted 14/06/2016 at 06:50:26 You can't expect a high standard with a limited-quality squad... but one thing you can expect is a good show of 'fighting spirit'. They played the game they had to and stifled Zlatan.The Irish are normally good to take one scalp at least and I thought last night Sweden were lucky not to have conceded at least 3! Matt Traynor 25 Posted 14/06/2016 at 16:13:22 I watched the first half on an ESPN feed - Martinez was one of the pundits. Then the thing crapped out, so switched to a feed from RTE. I dunno who the three old giffers were in the studio, but they absolutely hammered McCarthy. One of them said that he'd pretty much got Martinez sacked. They said he had the physical ability, but not the mental ability to be a top player. Paul Conway 26 Posted 14/06/2016 at 17:42:22 Matt Traynor @ 25. The three giffers in the Studio were none other than, on the left Johnny Giles, ex Leeds Utd Legend of the late '60s & early '70s. The man in the middle was Liam Brady, ex Arsenal and Sampdoria legend from the 70s. The dude on the right was, Eamonn Dunphy, ex Fulham, no great shakes player of the late '60s, but highly controversial journalist, who sticks the boot in ruthlessly in his criticism.I found it funny, but spot on when he said McCarthy spends his time 'waving his hands like a Traffic Cop'.anybody over 60 will remember Giles and Brady, who left McCarthy in the shadow! Check them out on YouTube! Have a good tournament, and great news about Koeman. I can't wait for the new season, COYB! Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads © ToffeeWeb