Emmet Malone: Ireland return to Paris with a point to prove

More than six years after the drama that accompanied their World Cup exit at the hands of France, Ireland return to the Stade de France with an unrelated point to prove.

Having effectively finished last at their last European Championships, they are in France first and foremost because of the expanded format and the primary aim now must be to show that they are not just, as the players like to say, here to make up the numbers.

Not for the first time, Martin O'Neill has called on his squad to "make their mark" on the tournament and that might safely be translated as securing a place in the second round. Anything other than victory over Sweden, though, and that will start to look like a little more of a long shot.

Four years ago, beating anyone at this level proved well beyond Giovanni Trapattoni’s side, but the significant improvement shown over the second half of the qualification campaign have changed the way this team is viewed.

One win

Just one win might be enough to secure a place in the last 16, and though

Robbie Keane

insists that they felt the same way in Poland, this time there is much more of a basis for believing qualification is not entirely beyond them.

Sweden might be more than a one-man team but their “one” is the primary reason they will start this game as marginal favourites. If Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not fairly effectively contained over the course of these 90 minutes then Ireland will be lucky to escape with anything.

Emil Forsberg, out on the left, will provide an important supply line for the Swedish skipper, and Seamus Coleman's ability to strike a balance nullifying him and posing a threat of his own is likely to form another of the game's key encounters.

In terms of his team, O’Neill has big decisions to make in quite a few departments. At the back it is almost any one from three to partner likely captain John O’Shea, and Robbie Brady’s starting role will say a good deal about just how make or break the manager really does see this game being.

If Brady plays at left back, then James McClean's chances of starting will be hugely boosted whereas shifting Brady into midfield will make room for Stephen Ward.

Set pieces

Either way, Brady’s set pieces will be of absolutely crucial importance against a side that doesn’t always defend them too well.

So too will be the movement between an attacking unit of Wes Hoolahan, Jon Walters and Shane Long, with the Swedes' defensive work in training suggesting they expect Ireland to be defending deep.

The relatively static Swedish central defence is likely to be seen as something to be targeted but long balls will suit them well enough.

Marcus Berg has pointed to Ireland having much the same problem, a remark that prompted Ibrahimovic to observe: "I am also slow so it doesn't matter. They can still be good even if they are slow. They are, of course, not quite that good.

O’Neill has repeatedly said that the aim is to progress but he might be reluctant to admit before the group kicks off that third place would be a perfectly satisfactory way to do it.

Quite what it will take to secure one of those four additions places in the second round remains unclear with the bar having been raised progressively over the course of the three World Cups that this particular system was employed at between 1986 and ’94.

There are no guarantees, especially not for a team with just one win – a decent goal difference may prove to be a decisive factor.

Points make prizes and for all O’Neill’s now proven ability to inspire a win against the better sides, this looks like Ireland’s best chance of taking three points. Watch out for Zlatan, though.