Sweden’s Hysen up for Dublin ‘decider’

At times during this World Cup qualification campaign, it has seemed Sweden’s approach has resembled that of their famed skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic — nonchalant and one-paced.

So there’s nothing better than a barb from the veteran wind-up merchant, Giovanni Trapattoni, to stir the Swedes ahead of their visit to Dublin a week today. Because, while us Irish marvel at Trap’s description of the opposition defence as a “little slow”, it merely succeeds in further motivating the recipients to abseil in and rub the septuagenarian’s nose in the Aviva Stadium turf.

Tobias Hysen has been immersed in the game long enough not to swallow such bait, albeit a nibble is fine to nourish on for a starter at least.