Italy’s power of the collective faces Zlatan test

Italy’s victory over Belgium was celebrated as a triumph of the team over individual talents, but Friday’s opponents Sweden are relying on the singular genius of frontman Zlatan Ibrahimovic to get their Euro 2016 campaign off the ground.

Italy had last won their opening match at a European Championship in 2000 — when they went on to reach the final — and having started strongly, Antonio Conte’s side are being talked of as contenders once again.

While Italy’s team is regarded as one of their weakest in years, they make up for their lack of star power with tactical nous, a flexibility of approach and an honest work ethic which proved too much for Belgium, who were beaten 2-0 in their opening Group E clash.

This is in stark contrast to Sweden’s supposed one-man band, which relies on the undoubted pedigree of Ibrahimovic, his country’s all-time leading scorer.

“Maybe we’re not who people said we were before the European Championship,” midfielder Alessandro Florenzi told reporters.

“Many are eating their words,” he added. “We’re focusing on the facts and leaving the talking to others.”

The tireless running of widemen Marco Parolo and Emanuele Giaccherini against Belgium typified Italy’s spirit of self-sacrifice and seemed a world away from Ibrahimovic’s trademark shrugs when passes failed to find him in Sweden’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Ireland.

However, memories of Ibrahimovic’s dazzling back-heeled volley against Italy at Euro 2004 and recollections of the 2014 World Cup — when the Azzurri fell at the first hurdle despite beating England in their opener — will prevent complacency.

“Ibrahimovic is a great player, he’d be a threat to any team,” midfielder Antonio Candreva told reporters.

“Ibrahimovic is the best forward since [Marco] Van Basten, except for Ronaldo,” added Daniele De Rossi. “We are a little bit scared of his power and his talent.

“However, we can beat [Sweden] the same way that we beat Belgium — with organisation and by hard work on the training field.”

Italy’s collective looks set to be weakened, however, with Italian media reporting that Matteo Darmian is injured, while forward Graziano Pelle missed training on Wednesday amid fitness concerns. De Rossi’s condition is also being monitored.

Yet regardless of the personnel, Italy will again keep faith in their team ethic, while Sweden need Ibrahimovic to start living up to his billing to boost their hopes of Euro 2016 success.

Croatia ready to seal berth

Rocked by a second family bereavement in three days, Croatia will be determined to seal a last-16 berth when they meet the Czech Republic in their Group D clash on Friday, defender Domagoj Vida said.

Following the death of captain Darijo Srna’s father on Sunday during Croatia’s 1-0 win over Turkey, the team’s media officer Tomislav Pacak said goalkeeping coach Marijan Mrmic’s father had also died during Tuesday night.

Srna, accompanied by coach Ante Cacic, went to his father’s funeral on Monday and returned to the team’s Deauville base camp in northern France ready to face the Czechs.

Vida, a tough-tackling centre back personifying Croatia’s willpower in the face of adversity, said the team would go the extra mile for their skipper and Mrmic, who travelled home early on Wednesday.

“We all mourn when someone here suffers a loss because we are one big family,” Vida told a news conference on Wednesday.

“We will be galvanised to play for our captain and put him straight back on the rails. He is a great character and I am totally convinced he will be at his best on Friday.”

“If we perform like we did against Turkey and show the same fighting spirit we should come out on top, although the Czechs are tougher opposition.

“I don’t think they will throw caution to the wind despite being under more pressure than us (after their opening 1-0 defeat by holders Spain). They are more likely to sit back and rely on fast breaks because that’s their style.”

However, the Czechs must come up with a bolder approach, having conceded a late goal against the Spaniards after working hard to contain the champions.

Striker Tomas Necid, who cut a lonely figure up front, said he hoped coach Pavel Vrba would field a more adventurous formation to haul them back into the race for a knockout stage berth.

“We haven’t discussed the tactics yet but I expect a more attacking set-up because only a win will do,” Necid told reporters at the team’s Tours base in western France.

“Croatia already have three points in the bag and if we are to advance, we simply have to win this game.

“They have top quality in midfield with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic giving them attacking power but we will be ready.”

Turan sparkle needed 

Turkey need captain Arda Turan to spring into action if they are to have a realistic chance of upsetting holders Spain in their Group D match on Friday.

Turan, off the pace and substituted after 65 minutes, was one of the most heavily criticised players when Turkey lost their opening match 1-0 to Croatia on Sunday, going down with barely a whimper.

The Barcelona player produced very little in attack and not much in the way of tracking back either as Croatia overran the Turkish midfield. He later apologised to the Turkish public, acknowledging that he had played badly.

Coach Fatih Terim was equally disappointed in Turan and teammate Hakan Calhanoglu.

“These are important players,” he said. “We rely on their performances but they couldn’t deliver enough. We need them but these things happen.”

At his best, Turan, who first captained Turkey as a 21-year-old and helped them to reach the semi-finals at Euro 2008, has excellent technique and vision and Turkey are a different side when he is on form.

Terim had said before the match that Turan’s lack of playing time at Barcelona would not be a problem and that he remained an important player even when not fully fit.

However, the bearded 29-year-old has clearly suffered as a result of last July’s move from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona which seemed to be of questionable wisdom at the time.

Turan had flourished at Atletico under the inspirational leadership of coach Diego Simeone, becoming the first Turkish-born player to win La Liga when they upset all the odds by winning the title in 2014.

He had, though, always dreamed of playing for Barcelona and agreed to join them despite knowing that, with the Catalans serving a transfer ban, he would have to wait six months for his competitive debut.

Once he was allowed to play in January, he had a lot of catching up to do and Turan struggled to adapt to a Barcelona team whose slick passing style is a world away from combative, never-say-die Atletico.

He started only nine league matches and made a further nine appearances as substitute, several of them for only a few minutes.

Spain have a 1-0 win over Czech Republic under their belts and it is hard to imagine any other scenario than the titleholders dominating possession and Turkey trying to snatch a goal on the break.