Luck of Irish not in as Clark blunder hands Sweden draw

Ciaran Clark's nodded own goal denied Ireland a precious three points in Group E's curtain raiser on Monday, but it's a result that Sweden should also be displeased with.

Martin O'Neill's side earned the lead shortly after the break when Wes Hoolahan struck a sweet volley beyond Andreas Isaksson thanks to some fine work on the flank by Seamus Coleman. Irish efforts were undone, however, when Clark powered a header into his own net from two yards.

With the sides now set to face four-time world champion Italy and No. 1 ranked Belgium to see out their commitments before the knockout rounds, sharing the spoils at the Stade de France may prove costly. It would take a significant effort to clinch a top two berth now, and holding out for a third-place finish and progression could be a lottery.

Swaths of green and yellow entered the Stade de France buoyed by a party atmosphere enjoyed in the town. Fans of both countries participated in singalongs and shared in the festivities, displaying a fine example of what supporting football abroad should be.

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The first half was a steady affair, but the Irish had the best of proceedings. Derby County's Jeff Hendrick proved a menace in the midfield, crashing shots on goal with great regularity and keeping things ticking for the Boys in Green.

Jonathan Walters was his usual busy self for his country, too. The portly Stoke City forward showed his neat footwork and intelligent movement on occasion, but it was his physical graft that allowed room for Hoolahan to dispatch his 48th-minute shot past a despairing Isaksson.

Clark, the sole representative of Aston Villa in the tournament, will hope he's not vilified for the two dropped points. After some dazzling meandering in and around the box by Zlatan Ibrahimovic carved out space for the 34-year-old to cross, Clark could only respond by steering the ball beyond a faultless Darren Randolph.

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The equaliser punished Ireland for taking its foot off the gas after Hoolahan's opener, and O'Neill will now return to the drawing board to devise ways to shock Belgium on Saturday in Bordeaux.

Erik Hamren's Sweden plays its second match of the tournament a day earlier against Italy in Toulouse.