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10 ways Ireland must try to stop Zlatan Ibrahimovic

If we are to have any hope of beating Sweden we suggest you follow these guidelines, Trap.

1. Get Ciaran Clark and Paul Green to team up and do a number on him

The pair just need to follow Carlos Marchena and Marcos Senna’s example.

Credit: Martin Meissner/AP/Press Association Images

2. You could put Gerard Pique sitting in the front row of the Friends Arena. That would almost certainly distract him…

They were close friends at Barca.

Credit: Flickr

3. Childish insults about the size of his nose could work

Although it will probably make him want to score even more.

Credit: Tumblr

4. Cut off his long beautiful locks

Maybe, much like Samson, that’s where his power lies.

Credit: Darko Bandic/AP/Press Association Images

The season he decided to shave it off (2005-06), he managed just seven Serie A goals for Juve so there’s something in it.

Credit: ADRIANA SAPONE/AP/Press Association Image

5. When the ball’s out of play, whisper in his ear that he never fit in at Barcelona

He may pretend it didn’t bother him, but we know he’s still hurting.

Credit: Bernat Armangue/AP/Press Association Images

6. Use “baseball bats and dogs”

Former PSG and Bolton Wanderers defender Bernard Mendy had that advice before a Ligue 1 game back in December. Unfortunately, he decided against brute force and his side Brest were beaten 3-0.

To add insult to injury, Mendy scored an own goal against his former club.

7. Allegedly, if you played this song to Zlatan, he would spontaneously combust

Think of it as his Kryptonite.

YouTube credit: hebenmusic

8. Make a fool out of him

He won’t like that one bit. We’re thinking James McClean might have it in his locker.

Credit: Tumblr

9. Have Mark Kennedy and Phil Babb hop all over his outrageously pink Lamborghini, which he got custom-made to match his boots

It's his pride and joy.

Credit: topdrawersoccer.com

We're picturing something like this:

Credit: Gifsoup

10. If all else fails, there's always voodoo...

Credit: Antonio Calanni/AP/Press Association Images and Steve O’Rourke

Respect to this Inter Milan striker… who has just named his son after Lionel Messi

7 things we learned from John Delaney’s Sky Sports interview

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34 Comments
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    Mute Flashheart
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 8:41 AM

    Media are obsessed with “Zlat” all week, they have no research done on the other Swedes, who are fairly handy too.

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    Mute emmomac
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:45 AM

    Its so bad. No one has any clue about the rest of the Sweden team!

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    Mute philip farrelly
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 8:37 AM

    Whisper in his ear. Mick Wallace wants a ride, in your pink Ferrari.

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    Mute Gary Moran
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 8:50 AM

    I can think of a better way to stop him…. Throw Paul Green from the team bus when it is moving at a good speed on the motorway , then start a proper midfielder in his place, someone who can actually play football!!!

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 8:47 AM

    11. Make sure he does not make it to the stadium in the first place?

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    Mute David Whelan
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:12 AM

    First 5 mins clatter a la Keane v Overmars….

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    Mute David Whelan
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:15 AM

    A proper clatter

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    Mute Seamus O'Connor
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 10:08 AM

    we’d just need to smuggle Keano onto the pitch to do the job ….

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    Mute Jason Power
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 8:36 AM

    Just after kick off Trap, in disguise, should sneak over to the Swedish technical area and make a quick substitution on their behalf

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    Mute Cliona
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 8:35 AM

    Who cares? We won’t win anyway…

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    Mute On Raglan Road
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 11:38 AM

    Women stay in the kitchen, this is men’s talk :)

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    Mute Cliona
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 12:23 PM

    My bad I got carried away……do you want corne beef on your sambo?

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    Mute Gordon Weldon
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 8:59 AM

    It’s very simple lads, all we have to is get Paul Mc Shane to do man to man marking job on him, sorted!!!!!

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    Mute Raymond Power
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 8:34 AM

    living in sweden MUST facebook this..unsettle em like.

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    Mute Hughie O'Donnell
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:21 AM

    Ireland 2 Sweden 0

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    Mute richie hunt
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:02 AM

    It’s gonna be tough, very very tough. But, if we pull together as a team we can do it.

    Sweden are more than a one man team too, and all the focus on Zlatan instead of the team…

    We are a tiny nation of fighters, the Irish team have been punching well about their weight cause of the fighters attitude… Hopefully it will continue against Sweden…

    All failing, park the team bus in front of the goal and don’t let zlatan take any 35 yard bicycle kicks lol

    On a major plus side, the game would be unplayable in the weather at home.. so hope Sweden is less stormy tonight

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    Mute b
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:48 AM

    Wow. How insightful, think you left one or two footballing cliches out there. In footballing terms we have to decide if our centre backs follow him when he drops deeper or if our midfielders will do a job (hence why trap has picked green over McCarthy who is a far more effective player in an advanced role). In saying that he is going to get on the ball anyway and we’ll realistically just have to hope he has a bit of an off day and we get a bit lucky.

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    Mute richie hunt
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 8:23 PM

    Yawn…..

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    Mute Colm Meade
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:32 AM

    Just find a way….. Easy way, hard way… Either way

    He’s just a man with 2 arms, 2 legs & a gigantic nose

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    Mute Leonard Washington
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 10:45 AM

    And a tiny Penis

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    Mute David Washington
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:23 AM

    Paul green gona run amok .. Dominating performance . Like Brady in his hay day

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    Mute Christian Carley
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 12:20 PM

    Sweden are a handy side, any team who can claw back 4 against Germany need to be respected!

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    Mute Steve
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:13 AM

    Why is everyone so obsessed with Ibrahimovic? He has been a donkey in as many games as he has been good in. Only for the overhead kick goal he scored against England people wouldn’t be half as worried about him. I hope Ireland are not as focused on him as the media are as they can keep him quiet all they want but there are others who can score. Sweden are not a one man team.

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    Mute David Washington
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 10:45 AM

    Every one knows there not a one man team but ibrahimavich is world class. His control of the ball is unbelievable .he is extremely strong . Legs to match that nose of his. Lets just pray he has one them off nights and Ireland put in a performance for once..

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 12:04 PM

    Lets all sing ourselves into a losing frenzy once more

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    Mute James Patrick Smith
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:55 AM

    Ask Paul Green to kick 6″5 of Ibra but he’d probably miss

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    Mute Tony Mc Donagh
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 10:07 AM

    irish team should all call in sick so match is called off then we cant lose

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 9:37 AM

    A gun tower at the 4 corners of the stadium is the only way you’ll stop this guy.

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    Mute gerard carey
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 12:09 PM

    Bring back the squad from the 1990 world cup. They would have a better chance of winning. time for trap to go. didnt score 1 goal at euros and he keeps his job. What a joke. he is auld chancer.

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    Mute Brian Corcoran
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 3:25 PM

    Séan St. Ledger scored against Croatia, for the record.

    Still a dismal showing in the tournament though.

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    Mute Dylan Prendergast
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 11:52 AM

    BREAK HIS FOOKIN LEGS… nah just kidding.
    This man will give the Irish defence a nightmare.
    Sweden 3, Ireland 1.

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    Mute Lashes
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 11:05 AM

    Was looking at the prices this morning online… 8/15 Sweden looks a gift but as the saying goes you never see a poor bookie. Maybe they know something we dont

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    Mute Patrick Mcnabb
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 11:37 AM

    We could drop the linesman a brown envelope !!! ;) ;)

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    Mute KM
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    Mar 22nd 2013, 11:40 AM

    Stick a wig on Connor Sammon and through him out in his Zlatan’s place

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