The Republic of Ireland play Sweden on Monday in UEFA Euro 2016 at the Stade de France, Paris, after securing their berth in the competition through the play-offs.Ireland's marathon European Championship qualifying campaign was finally complete followinga 3-1 aggregate win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in November.They arrive in France looking to recover from their torrid showing four years earlier, which saw them eliminated at the group stage following three successive defeats.Once again they have been drawn against stiff opposition in Sweden, Belgium and Italy in Group E, but the squad remain hopeful of a good showing at the summer's tournament.With three teams potentially making their way through to the next stage of the competition, goal difference could prove vital in order to secure their position in the last 16, so defensive solidarity remains high on the agenda for almost all participants.Sweden, on the other hand, will be led by enigmatic forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the weight of the country's expectations set to weigh on his shoulders once more.Heres a look how the bookmakers are seeing things on the cusp of this one, how both teams have been playing ahead of the tournament and how the match is likely to pan out.Odds available in full viaOddscheckerand accurate as of 10:20 p.m. (BST), June 12.Match can be streamed via theITV Hub(UK) andWatch ESPN(US)It couldn't get any worseThe Republic's performance at the Poland-Ukraine 2012 edition of the European Championship left a sour taste in the mouth for those involved in the campaign. A fourth-place finish in Group B saw them slip out of the tournament without much notice, having netted just one goal in three matches and conceding nine against Croatia, Italy and winners Spain.A new crop of players have established themselves in the Irish starting XI since that embarrassing episode, with Southampton striker Shane Long now the attacking fulcrum of the team following Robbie Keane's reduction in playing time.Having said that, many familiar faces still make up Martin O'Neill's preferred first-choice team.John O'Shea marshals the defence, with Glenn Whelan anchoring the midfield. The Stoke City midfielder'stactical awareness and defensive astuteness allows the Republic's flair players, Wes Hoolahan, James McClean and Robbie Brady, to express themselves further up the field.Former Celtic boss O'Neillaided by former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as his assistanthas been positive in his approach whether it be the style of play or willingness to offer match action to different players. The results speak for themselves. Their 2-1 final warm-up defeat to Belarus was the team's second loss from their last 14 in all competitions.Ahead of their first appearance in this year's competition, West Bromwich Albion winger McClean admitted the squad are eager to banish the memories of four years prior. Per Toby Keel of Eurosport, he said:I went to the last European Championship with Ireland but it was a mixed time for me and for the team. This time, I feel much more like a part of the squad, I feel like an established international now. I'm hoping I can go and have a good tournament and get rid of some of the demons from the last one.Belgium, Italy and Sweden are all big names but I don't think they'll be looking forward to playing us either. But it's three games, all one-offs in their way, and a lot of things can happen. Hopefully, we'll be smiling come the end of the group and we can make it into the knock-out stages.For the Swedes, all the attentionas expectedwill surround the country's highest-ever goalscorer Ibrahimovic. With his club future yet to be decided following the announcement he will be leaving Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, the 34-year-old captain has been linked with several high-profile clubs; none more so than Manchester United, per Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star.Sweden too were forced to progress through the play-off format, eventually downingScandinavianrivals Denmark 4-3 onaggregate as Ibrahimovic contributed with three of the goals, per Soccerway.Head coach Erik Hamren appreciated the threat the Republic possess and admits he was highly impressed by their performances in qualifying. Per Keel, the former Rosenborg manager said:I have a big respect for them. They made some really good results, for example Germany and also the game against Poland, they didn't have the result but I thought the performance was good. And the playoffs' Strong. We also know we're going to meet a team who is equal with us. If you see in the rankings too, we are close to each other.Belgium and Italy will offer sterner tests for both sides in the group, with three points in their opening encounter critical for their hopes of advancing to the last 16 of the competition.Without the goals of Ibrahimovic, Sweden often fail to register much attacking prowess, while for the Republic, O'Neill must settle on his first-choice XI to inspire confidence and consistency in his players if they are to banish their 2012 demons.
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