Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Euro 2016 Group E clash between the Republic of Ireland and Sweden at the Stade de France. Neither of these two sides have a particularly impressive record at European Championships, and with Belgium and Italy also in their group today's match could well prove to be a pivotal one in the hopes of either side qualifying for the knockout stages, so we should be in for a decent contest. Let's start with a look at the team news...

IRELAND STARTING XI: Randolph; Coleman, O'Shea, Clark, Brady; McCarthy, Whelan; Walters, Hoolahan, Hendrick; Long

SWEDEN STARTING XI: Isaksson; Lustig, Lindelöf, Granqvist, Olsson; Larsson, Lewicki, Källström, Forsberg; Ibrahimovic, Berg

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, the first thing to note from Ireland's point of view is the lack of Robbie Keane, who misses out today having been struggling with a calf injury in the build-up to this game. His absence is a major blow for Martin O'Neill, with Keane having been Ireland's top scorer during qualifying to add to his incredible record of 67 goals in 143 appearances for his country. He also has two goals in three starts against Sweden, so Ireland will be missing some valuable experience there.

© Getty Images

In Keane's absence, Shane Long will be leading the line tonight and he is the type of player who will not give the Swedish defence an easy second in the game. Only Keane scored more than him during Ireland's qualifying campaign, with Long also getting that memorable goal against world champions Germany during Ireland's victory. It is fair to say that he won't be the most feared striker at the Euros, but he can certainly be a pain to play against and the Sweden defence won't be looking forward to it much today.

Providing support for Long will be Hoolahan, Hendrick and Walters, the latter of whom has overcome an Achilles injury to feature today. Their other fitness doubt in the build-up to this game was McCarthy, but he too has recovered in time to start at the heart of the midfield alongside Glenn Whelan. There was suggestions that Brady might move further up the pitch to play as one of the wide midfielders, but Walters's inclusion sees the Norwich man stay in defence.

It is a defence that includes the vastly experienced John O'Shea, who is the only one of Ireland's three centurions to make the starting lineup today. Shay Given, like Keane, must make do with a place on the bench as O'Neill opts for Darren Randolph between the sticks, while he has also chosen Ciaran Clark at centre-back instead of Duffy and Keogh. Everton's Seamus Coleman makes up the back four in a much-changed side from the one that was beaten by Belarus last time out.

As for Sweden, there really is only one place to start with them - Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The veteran striker is arguably in the best form of his career heading into these championships, and a goal today would see him create a slice of history by becoming the first player to score in four separate European Championships. He has scored six times in 10 previous appearances in this competitions, which leaves him just three goals behind the all-time record held by Michel Platini.

© Getty Images

Ibrahimovic is back in the French capital for this one having signed off from his stint with Paris Saint-Germain in style last season. He broke records galore during his time at the club, becoming their greatest ever goalscorer and recording career-best figures of 50 goals, including a club-record 38 in Ligue 1, during this final campaign. He has never managed a goal in six previous meetings with Ireland, but he did score 11 times in qualifying, including three in the playoff against Denmark.

Ireland have made a point of warning that Sweden are more than just Ibrahimovic, though, and while the rumoured Manchester United target is undoubtedly the headline act for Erik Hamren's side, he will be hopeful that they don't rely too heavily on him. Ibrahimovic wasn't on the scoresheet during Sweden's 3-0 win over Wales last time out, with Forsberg, Lustig and Guidetti getting the goals, and the former two start again for Sweden today.

Like Ireland, there is plenty of experience in the Swedish side even if relatively few of their players have ever made it to the highest level in their club careers. Kallstrom and Isaksson in particular feel as if they have been around forever, while both Olsson and Larsson ply their trade in the Premier League on a weekly basis. Berg, as expected, is the man chosen to partner Ibrahimovic in attack, and he will be hoping to capitalise on space created by any special treatment afforded to the star man.

Ibrahimovic aside, neither side are exactly star-studded, which makes today's game all the way important when it comes to Group E. Belgium and Italy make up the group, and both have stronger squads on paper than either Ireland or Sweden, so the result of this match is likely to have a big bearing on whether either side to qualify for the last 16. Ireland have never managed to make it beyond the group stages of a European Championships, so are bidding to break new ground this summer.

At the very least they will be hopeful of improving on their showing from four years ago, when they were eliminated bottom of the group having lost all three of their matches, conceding nine goals and scoring just one. In their defence, they were drawn in a very tough group with Croatia, Spain and Italy on that occasion, but it isn't much easier this time around so they could be in for a difficult time of things again.

Their record at the Euros is a poor one having won just once on this stage ever before. That came in their very first match at a European Championships when they beat England in 1988, but since then they are winless in five outings. That includes an ongoing streak of four defeats in a row, which is the longest of any team to have made it to France this summer. They have failed to even score in three of those four defeats, and have never registered more than one goal in a game at the Euros.

In truth, they have done pretty well to even reach the finals this summer considering the qualifying group they were drawn in. It is fair to say that they haven't really had their fabled luck when it comes to such draws, and having been pitted against the likes of Germany, Poland and near-neighbours Scotland in qualifying, they may have been fearing the worst again. They did require a playoff in the end, beating Bosnia 3-1 over two legs, but even to get to that stage they had impressed.

That standout moment came with a win over Germany, and they actually took four points from a possible six off the world champions during qualifying, only missing out on an automatic place in France by three points. They outperformed both Germany and Poland when it came to defensive stability, conceding a group-low seven goals in their 10 games while scoring 19 at the other end, although that was only the fourth-best attacking record in the group - thanks largely to the participation of Gibraltar.

They are winless in their last three games before the tournament, though, being held to draws against Slovakia and Netherlands and losing against Belarus in their most recent outing. That defeat was their only loss in their last six games, though, and they have scored in each of their last 11 outings in a run that stretches back more than a year. The last time they failed to score in a competitive match was in November 2014, so even without Keane they will be confident of giving their fans something to shout about today.

They don't have a particularly good record on their travels in recent years, though. They have won just one of their last five and two of their last 15 away games in a run that stretches back to October 2012, while their most recent wins on the road have come against minnows such as Gibraltar, Georgia, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan, Estonia and Andorra. They haven't beaten a traditionally bigger team on the road since June 2011, when they overcome Italy.

Sweden may not quite be at the same level as Italy, but they should pose more of a threat than Ireland's most recent away conquests. The Ibrahimovic factor means that they will have confidence of at least finishing third in the group too, which could be enough to take them through to the last 16 courtesy of the tournament's new format this year. That is something that Sweden, like Ireland, have not achieved for a while, but it certainly won't be easy considering the strength of their group.

They have not made it past the group stages at a European Championships since 2004, despite now having qualified for five in a row. They were knocked out in the quarter-finals 12 years ago, but their best showing on this stage came as the host nation in 1992, when they made it all the way to the semi-finals before being beaten 3-2 by Germany. They are perennial contenders in this competition, but they rarely make a serious mark on it.

Indeed, since progressing to the semi-finals in 1992, Sweden have won only three of 14 matches at European Championships, drawing four and losing seven of those. That includes four defeats in their last five, although their most recent outing at the Euros, four years ago, saw them end their losing streak with a 2-0 win over France. It wasn't enough for them to get out of their group as they finished bottom behind England, France and Ukraine, but it did at least stop the rot.

Sweden, like Ireland, needed a playoff to book their spot at this summer's tournament, although their qualification group was a lot kinder than Ireland's. They ultimately finished third behind Russia and the unbeaten Austria, although they were comfortably seven points better off than third-placed Montenegro, so there was never any real danger of missing out altogether. They came up against Scandinavian rivals Denmark in the playoff, and Ibrahimovic scored three times over the two legs to help his side to a 4-3 aggregate triumph.

They actually conceded 12 times during that qualifying campaign, including the playoffs, which is second only to Czech Republic for the worst amongst Euro 2016 finalists. Their results against Russia and Austria - the two teams that finished above them in the standings - proved to be most costly in their campaign as they took just one point off both sides and were beaten 1-0 by Russia and 4-0 at home by Austria.

Since that 4-0 reverse to Austria, though, Sweden have been in relatively good form, losing just one of their last 10 games. That defeat came at the hands of Turkey in March, but aside from that there have been five wins and four draws since September of last year. Whether a draw would be good enough tonight only time will tell, but this does look like the easiest match for Sweden - and indeed Ireland - on paper so I would expect them to go for the win.

Again, they are similar to Ireland in that they haven't got the best record in the road recently, though. They have won only three of their last 12 away games stretching back to January 2014, drawing four and losing five. Their only victories have come against Moldova, Liechtenstein and Finland too, and the opposition they will be facing this summer will pose much greater tests than those three.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Stade de France, which means that it is time for a prediction! This one could ultimately come down to whether or not Ireland are able to keep Ibrahimovic quiet, but a player of his quality is likely to create something against an Ireland defence which is not the strongest. Ireland will be right up for this one themselves, though, and I can see them nicking a draw. I'll go for 1-1!

Sweden have never lost a competitive game against Ireland before, winning four and drawing two of their previous meetings. This is their first ever clash at a major international tournament, though, and including friendlies their win rate drops to 50%, with five from 10 previous contests (D2 L3).

These two were in the same qualifying group for the 2014 World Cup, and it was Sweden who came out on top in their double header on that occasion. The game in Sweden ended goalless, but Elmander and Svensson cancelled out Keane's goal in Dublin to hand Sweden a 2-1 victory in their most recent meeting.

Sweden have only ever played at the Stade de France once before, drawing 1-1 with France in a 2005 friendly, but it is a stadium that won't hold many fond memories for Ireland. This was the scene of one of their most controversial incidents in recent history, when Thierry Henry's handball in the build-up to a William Gallas goal helped France to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their playoff. The France had won 1-0 in the first leg, so that goal proved decisive and ultimately cost Ireland a place at the World Cup.

Right, the players are out and the anthems have been sung with gusto so we're just about ready to go here! Two years of preparation has come down to this moment for both Ireland and Sweden!

KICKOFF: Sweden get us underway for this one at the Stade de France!

Ireland have their first attacking opportunity as Brady looks to deliver a free kick from a good crossing position, but it is easily cleared by the Swedish defence.

It's been a quiet start to the match here, with both sides just looking to settle in the opening stages of their respective Euros campaigns.

The first hint of a sign of Ibrahimovic as a cross arrives towards him at the back post, but he can't get over the ball and Ireland are eventually able to clear the danger.

SAVE! The first chance of the match falls to Ireland as a throw is knocked down by Walters to Hendrick just on the edge of the box. He hits a powerful effort first time, but Isaksson dives to his right to parry it wide.

Almost a chance for Sweden at the other end now as the ball is played towards Berg, but it just skips away from the striker after he chested it down and Randolph collects it bravely before being clattered into by Berg.

Ireland are getting into the game a bit more now. Sweden were beginning to gain an element of control over it early on, but right now it is fairly even.

The fans deserve credit for a good atmosphere inside the stadium here. Unsavoury scenes off the field have stolen most of the headlines so far at this tournament, but these two sets of supporters seem happy to just enjoy the occasion, as it should be.

CHANCE! Big chance for Ireland as Clark flicks a header on from a corner at the back post, and it arrives to his centre-back partner O'Shea. He seems to misjudge it a little, though, and can't get any contact on his finish when he simply needed to prod it home at the back post.

Ireland will be fairly happy with their performance in this match so far. They have come the closest to scoring and have also kept Ibrahimovic very quiet so far.

Speaking of Ibrahimovic, Sweden win a free kick 35 yards from goal and it is no surprise that he tries to shoot. He doesn't catch it, though, drilling it low straight into the wall.

Ibrahimovic is being forced to drop very deep in order to get involved in this game, and even then he is being afforded very little time on the ball.

Sweden have a good long spell of possession, but they aren't really going anywhere with it and when they do eventually lift it into the area Ireland are able to get it clear.

Sweden almost have a chance to break forward, getting a bit of space in the final third for the first time really, but Ibrahimovic's pass out wide right for Larsson is too heavy and the attack breaks down.

CLOSE! Ireland come close again here as Coleman gets forward down the right for the first time. His cross is too high for anyone in the middle but Hendrick collects it and drops it back to Brady. He cuts inside onto his right foot and drives one towards goal from around 25 yards, but it flies narrowly over the top.

Sweden have enjoyed the majority of the ball so far today, but it is Ireland who have looked most like scoring. O'Shea has squandered the best chance of the game, while Brady and Hendrick have both threatened too.

OFF THE BAR! And they are inches away from getting the breakthrough here! It is a lovely move from the Irish as they string a good run of passes together before Hendrick curls a beauty of an effort towards goal from 25 yards. Isaksson is beaten, but the effort thumps against the crossbar.

Martin O'Neill will be desperate to see his side get a goal before half time here. You can't say they have been dominant, but they have created the chances and should be ahead. There is always the chance of a sucker-punch at the other end of the field, though, particularly with someone like Ibrahimovic on the pitch.

Ibrahimovic brings out his first piece of skill, spinning away from a defender with a pirouette over the ball. A long pass over the top almost finds Berg shortly after, but it is cleared by Ireland.

CHANCE! It's half a chance for Sweden, but it falls to Ibrahimovic so you wouldn't be surprised to see it fly in. The ball is hooked towards the skipper by Lindelhof, but he is under pressure from two green shirts and can only fire over the crossbar having reacted well to get the volley in in the first place.

CHANCE! Very nearly a chance for Ireland at the other end as Brady swings a peach of a cross into the middle that both Walters and Long are attacking. It is just a yard in front of both of them, though, and the ball bounces right across the face of goal and to safety.

YELLOW CARD! McCarthy becomes the first name in the book today for a tug back on Forsberg. No complaints there!

SWEDEN SUB: Sweden are being forced into a change at the end of this first half here, with Lustig limping off to be replaced by Erik Johansson.

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

The first half comes to an end at the Stade de France, then, and we're still goalless between Ireland and Sweden. It is Ireland who have had the better of things so far, though, and Martin O'Neill will be wondering just how they aren't ahead at the interval.

The closest we have come to a goal arrived shortly after the half-hour mark, and it would have been a memorable one too. Ireland's build-up play was slick as they advanced forward down the left before the ball was eventually teed up for Hendrick. He curled a first-time effort towards goal that had Isaksson beaten all ends up, but his shot thumped against the crossbar.

The best chance of the first half fell to John O'Shea, though, with the Ireland captain squandering a clear opening from a corner. Clark flicked the ball on at the near post towards O'Shea, but the veteran seemed to misjudge it and failed to even connect with the ball when he had the goal gaping in front of him.

Hendrick has also come close with another drilled half-volley that needed to be tipped wide by Isaksson, while Brady had a shot of his own dip narrowly over the crossbar too. Sweden have offered very little in reply, with Ibrahimovic being kept quiet so far. The star striker had one half chance inside the Ireland area, but he has been given very little time or space whatsoever by Ireland's defenders.

The concern for Ireland may be that Sweden might not be that poor again in the second half, and they could live to rue their missed opportunities in that first half. It isn't often that Ibrahimovic goes a full 90 minutes without a decent chance, and if he takes that they it could be a sucker punch for Ireland.

KICKOFF: Ireland get us underway once again at the Stade de France as they look to get their campaign off to a winning start.

SAVE! Almost a perfect start for Ireland, and again it is Hendrick who threatens. He escapes into a shooting position from just outside the area, but his low drive it pushed away by the keeper.

It is a perfect start to the half for Ireland as they finally make the breakthrough! It is excellent work from Coleman in the build-up as he cuts inside his man and reaches the byline before pulling a cross back into the middle. Hoolahan is there, and he produces a lovely first-time finish into the corner.

Immediate danger at the other end of the field as a cross arrives into the Ireland box that Clark slices over his own crossbar.

CHANCES! Two chances in quick succession for Sweden from the resulting corner! The ball appears to come off a green shirt from the initial delivery and Randolph reacts brilliantly to push it away. It falls to Forsberg, but he places his finish well wide when he really should have scored!

CHANCE! That goal has just sparked Sweden into life here! Lewicki is left unmarked at the back post to nod a cross into the middle that almost falls for Ibrahimovic. He can't get proper contact on it, though, and once again the defence clear it over their own crossbar.

Sweden have been camped in the final third ever since going behind and it is backs-to-the-wall stuff for Ireland. They are eventually able to break out, though, and win a free kick in a good crossing position.

Ireland have only ever won one game at European Championships before, but there is no doubt that they deserve this one despite surrendering most of the ball. They have had to weather a storm since going ahead, but they are getting back into it now.

The game is just beginning to get a little more stretched since that opening goal, though, which isn't good news for Ireland. That opener has completely changed this contest.

SWEDEN SUB: Another change for Sweden here as John Guidetti replaces Berg.

CHANCE! Ibrahimovic has his first clear chance of the game, and it is the type that only he could really finish. A cross arrives that is behind him, but he manages to get to it and fashion an unorthodox volley that zips narrowly wide.

YELLOW CARD! Lindelof goes into the book for catching Walters in the face while trying to hold off a challenge from the Ireland man.

IRELAND SUB: Ireland make a change here as James McClean replaces Walters.

Sweden have certainly looked more dangerous in this second half, but Ireland are still playing well themselves and will be pretty happy with how the match is going right now. A second goal would be ideal for them, but you can understand any cautiousness about committing too many men forward.

Almost a chance for Long to break forward as a quick pass catches a defender out of possession. Long can't get it under control quickly enough, though, and the defender gets back to make a challenge.

CHANCE! Half a chance for McClean as he attacks a cross really well at the back post, getting in front of Lindelof and nodding his effort goalwards. He gets a decent connection too, but he is a long way out and can't steer it on target.

Sweden have their equaliser, and it is heartbreak for Clark as he turns the ball into his own net. Ibrahimovic is heavily involved, getting himself to the byline down the left channel before clipping his cross into the box. Clark has to deal with it, but he is in an awkward position and steers his stooping header into his own net.

SAVE! Ireland look for an immediate response to that equaliser and Hendrick breaks into the box, but he is denied by Isaksson from a tight angle.

Well, Sweden responded well to Ireland's goal, and Ireland have responded well to Sweden's now. They are right back on the front foot and are going for the win here.

YELLOW CARD! Whelan goes into the book for a heavy challenge on Lewicki that has Larsson incensed.

IRELAND SUB: Off goes the goalscorer Hoolahan, and on comes Robbie Keane for the final 12 minutes or so.

Just 10 minutes remain in this match, and it is still very finely poised. On the balance of chances, Ireland should be ahead, but right now it really could go either way.

CLOSE! Sweden come close again here as Olsson is afforded time and space to advance forward down the left flank before feeding a low cross in towards the near post. Ibrahimovic almost gets a touch to it, but it flashes right across the face of goal and to safety.

IRELAND SUB: A third and final change for Ireland here as Aiden McGeady replaces McCarthy.

SWEDEN SUB: Sweden respond with their final chance too as Albin Ekdal replaces Lewicki.

It must be said that Sweden look most like scoring in the closing stages here, so Ireland will be pretty happy if they are able to hold out for a draw now. Whether it will be enough in the long run remains to be seen, but it is at least a point on the board.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match.

It is honours even at the Stade de France between Ireland and Sweden, then, as Ciaran Clark's own goal cancels out Wes Hoolahan's opener. Both sides enjoyed spells in the ascendency and a draw is probably the fairest result, although it took Ireland's opening goal to spark Sweden into life. Whether this will be enough for either side heading into games against Belgium and Italy remains to be seen, but they have both at least avoided defeat.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole as both Ireland and Sweden got their Euro 2016 campaigns underway with a draw. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. The action continues with Group E's second match between Belgium and Italy, coverage of which can be found by clicking here. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!