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Sweden vs Belgium - Wilmots: Belgium must curb the emotions

Wednesday, June 22, 2016 Source: PA

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has warned his players to be extra wary of Sweden talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic when the countries meet in their final Euro 2016 Group E game in Nice on Wednesday.

Sweden go into the game in third place and on one point, so anything less than a win would mean Ibrahimovic signing off with his country, having announced on Tuesday his international career would come to an end after Euro 2016.

Wilmots, whose side are second in the group ahead of the game and on course to qualify for the knock-out stages, believes the prolific striker could be doubly determined to make his mark.

Wilmots said according to uefa.com: "Zlatan could be a danger because it is perhaps his final game and he will obviously want to go out with a bang. But that will depend on us.

"We must avoid any emotional attachment. Even if the manager is going to retire, even if Ibrahimovic is going to retire, even if other players are going to retire. That is Sweden's issue, not ours."

Following an opening-game defeat to Italy, Belgium got their tournament back on course with a 3-0 win over the Republic of Ireland and Wilmots wants them to continue their progress in the tournament.

He added: "This is another cup final. I hope we have a lot of possession, pass the ball about well and make them run as much as possible, while managing to create a lot of chances and, hopefully, putting them away.

"Sweden are a very compact team, who defend well with two solid banks of four and two up top, who are very skilful. So we need to be very cautious and very compact ourselves."

Sweden coach Erik Hamren knows a lot will be expected of Ibrahimovic but wants the rest of the team to show they have a part to play too.

Hamren said: "Zlatan means a lot to us, as he's shown in the past.

"In qualifying he decided most of our games; he's a big part of our attack but he can't do it alone. We have to be better in our offence as a team."

Hamren was giving little away over his approach to the game but knows his side have ground to make up if they are to extend their time in France by reaching the next stage.

"Should we start the game on the attack and risk conceding or start out more carefully? That's something I have a little bit more time to figure out how exactly to balance, but we need to respect Belgium.

"They have a very strong attack and a couple of individual players who are very skilful. We have to stop them. If we can do that we will also create chances ourselves."

One thing Hamren is guarded against is complacency even if his team need to make up ground following a draw with the Republic and defeat to Italy so far.

Hamren added of the threat posed by Belgium: "If we think that we can just go out there, do whatever and forget all about their qualities, they will punish us.

"It has to be about using our brains and neutralising them. My message to the players is that we have everything to play for. If we get a good result we're still in it; if we get a bad result we're out of the tournament."

Sweden could be without Celtic defender Mikael Lustig who has a groin problem whereas Belgium have doubts over Tottenham playmaker Mousa Dembele and Atletico Madrid forward Yannick Carrasco who both have ankle injuries.

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