Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confirmed that he will retire from international football following the conclusion of Euro 2016.
The
34-year-old has 62 goals for Sweden and could yet create another bit of
history this week as he looks to become the first player to score in
four European Championship tournaments.
Given the announcement,
he’ll now be desperate to guide the Swedes through to the last-16 as
they prepare to face Belgium on Wednesday night.
Having picked up
just one point from their opening two games, Erik Hamren’s men require a
positive result if they are to progress, and Ibrahimovic will
undoubtedly be key in helping them achieve that.
Nevertheless,
there was certainly a sense of sadness as the influential forward
confirmed his decision to call time on his international career in a
press conference held on Tuesday.
“I will not participate in the
Olympics because my last game will be the last game Sweden does in this
Euro. So let’s hope it goes as long as possible.
“To finish in a disappointment, never. Because I’m very proud to be the captain of Sweden and of what I’ve achieved.
“I
want to take this moment and thank all the supporters because they made
it possible for me to achieve what I have achieved. Without them it
would not have been possible.
“So wherever I go, wherever I come,
I’ll always bring the Swedish flag with me and stand with it. So for me
disappointment doesn’t exist, only proudness. I’m very thankful. So
thank you.”
While that clears up his international future, the
former AC Milan and Barcelona star has yet to confirm his club future as
Manchester United continue to be linked with signing him later this
summer.
It’s unlikely that any decision will be made public until
after the European Championship concludes, and so that will allow
Ibrahimovic to focus on the task in hand for the time being.
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