Zlatan to finish Sweden career after Euro 2016
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ZLATAN Ibrahimovic said yesterday that he will retire from international football after the European Championship.
The 34-year-old striker said ahead of Sweden’s final Group E game today against Belgium that it would be his last for his country if the team gets eliminated.
“The last game for Sweden in Euro will be my last game with Sweden, so I hope it will not be tomorrow,” he said. “Let’s hope it goes as long as possible.”
Even if Sweden loses and fails to qualify for the knockout stages, Ibrahimovic said he would not be disappointed with such an end to his international career.
“To finish on a disappointment, never, because I’m very proud to be captain of Sweden and what I achieved. So I want to take this moment and thank all the supporters, because they make it possible for me to achieve what I have achieved,” he said. “For me disappointment doesn’t exist, only proudness and grateful and very thankful.”
He added that he “will not participate in the Olympics” in Rio de Janeiro. He had been named in a provisional Swedish squad.
Ibrahimovic is Sweden’s record scorer with 62 goals and can become its joint sixth most-capped player with 116 appearances today. Sweden, which has yet to score in the tournament, is likely to need a win against Belgium to qualify for the last 16 after an opening draw with Ireland and a defeat to Italy.
“Our greatest star going is a big loss,” Sweden coach Erik Hamren said. “We have one international player that’s really at the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and that’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic.”
Hamren said that Ibrahimovic had discussed retirement with him in “January or February” but confirmed it only yesterday.
Ibrahimovic is out of contract with Paris Saint-Germain after four seasons in Ligue 1, but is yet to commit to a new club, although Manchester United is rumored to be the favorite.
Meanwhile, Gareth Bale insists Wales will not be celebrating to excess but said the tournament debutante will happily soak up the plaudits as it waits to find out its last 16 opponent at an “amazing” Euro 2016.
On only its second appearance at a major finals following its elimination to a Pele winner for Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 1958 World Cup, Wales has returned to the international football stage with a bang.
A 3-0 rout of hapless Russia on Monday made amends for a 1-2 defeat to England and fired the Dragons to the top of Group B after England was held to a goalless draw with Slovakia.
But while celebrations are on ice, Real Madrid forward Bale said the Welsh will happily enjoy the moment before they turn their attention to trying to qualify for the last eight at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday.
“We’re professionals,” Bale said when asked if the Welsh would celebrate by downing a few beers. “We’re going to enjoy the moment, but come tomorrow, come the next day, we’ll see who we get and start to prepare.”
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