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With both sides now needing a win to have a realistic chance of making the last eight, the three managers (the Swedes, of course…

With both sides now needing a win to have a realistic chance of making the last eight, the three managers (the Swedes, of course, have two) have been reverting to national stereotype as they struggle under the pressure.

Mustafa Denizli, under fire from the Turkish press after the defeat by Italy for not bothering to organise a programme of pre-championship friendlies, has reacted by banning the press from the team's base camp and refusing to say what his starting 11 will be. Actually it may not change given that after Sunday's game, Denizili restated his faith in his players' ability to rescue the situation. Meanwhile Sweden's co-managers, Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback, are more laid back with their camp an open house. The pair do have to make some changes as Roland Nilsson is suffering from concussion and Patrik Andersson is suspended. Both are huge losses for the Swedes, even if the whole defence did have a nightmare against Belgium on Saturday and the coaches will not relish having to meddle with a back four that had looked so solid in the qualifying stages.

Nevertheless, the pair look set to throw Teddy Lucic and Gary Sundgren into the fray at the back, while deploying Henrik Larrson as Kennet Andersson's striking partner.

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times