GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI MAY not have quite meant it but, in saying it, he revealed an awful lot.

At the end of the usual, scripted introduction to his pre-game press conference, the Irish manager mentioned how he’ll never forget the improvised Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal for Sweden that ultimately put his Italy team out of Euro 2004.

It was, of course, a natural theme to touch on; a piece of colour to throw his gracious hosts and something that can be laughed about now that sufficient time has passed.

But, although it’s obvious, it also illustrates just how much this game is about the man he mentioned: Ibrahimovic himself. Absolutely everything ultimately comes back to the forward, from every question in the build-up to every reference point regarding the teams on the pitch.

Indeed, it’s difficult to think of a single individual that has completely dominated the context of an Irish fixture since Roy Keane had a similar effect over a decade ago.

Ultimately, both have helped moderate teams do some great things. As the clearest example of Ibrahimovic’s influence, take their own qualifier against the Germans. With an hour gone of that October match, Sweden were 4-0 down and on their way to a similar embarrassment to that which Ireland suffered. It was at that exact point, however, that Ibrahimovic scored to reverse the tide and rouse his side into a famous comeback and 4-4 draw.

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Because, when you properly consider it, there isn’t actually too much difference between Ireland and Sweden beyond that obvious focal point. When you take Ibrahimovic out, in fact, they’re quite well matched.

The Swedes, for example, possess an ordinary enough side with some good young players, a focus on attack but not necessarily the quality to consistently make it work.

Ireland, meanwhile, possess an ordinary enough side with some good young players, but a focus on defence that no longer looks as sturdy as it once was.

And, while there remains controversy and debate in Ireland about the manager’s decisions, the Swedes don’t exactly have full faith in players like Mikael Lustig, Andreas Granqvist, Rasmus Elm and Tobias Hysen. There is a remarkable lack of confidence around Stockholm.

Similarly, although Sweden’s recent scoring record deserves praise, they speak with a lot of respect about Trapattoni’s away results and defensive performances. Ireland, of course, remain undefeated in an away qualifier under the Italian.

The potential key to this game beyond Ibrahimovic, though, is that such admirable form was built on a very different Irish foundation. Ultimately, the team is quite a long way from the players and career profiles that made them so tough to break down from 2008 to 2011.

Indeed, the humiliations of Euro 2012 and the 6-1 defeat to Germany arguably illustrated, more than anything else, the error of attempting to implement a defence-based game on a core squad that lacked either the age or the ability of it. Try to do it again, and Trapattoni may invite similar disaster.

More than anything, that backline no longer has the Richard Dunne of 2011.

(©INPHO/Donall Farmer)

As such, Trapattoni’s decision to balance Seamus Coleman’s forays forward with Paul Green’s defensive responsibility is a little more understandable than he has been given credit for (even it remains surprising to leave out a player so obviously talented as James McCarthy).

Similarly, beyond one forward, there is absolutely no guarantee this otherwise meek Swedish attack would even be capable of exposing Ireland. It’s a case of the movable object against the stoppable force.

That, though, again brings us back to Ibrahimovic. If he’s any way shackled, Ireland could well come away with a creditable result that rebuilds some confidence in Trapattoni’s reign.

If he isn’t, he will likely emphasise the clear difference between the sides: himself.

And, for all the somewhat exaggerated debate about his performances in “big games”, a forward that has scored in a Clasico and a Serie A decider won’t exactly see this fixture along those lines.

Instead, Ibrahimovic could have another big say in Trapattoni’s career.

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