By Daily sports on March 17, 2021
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to Sweden’s squad after an almost five-year hiatus to play in World Cup qualifiers at the end of March, head coach Janne Andersson said on Tuesday.
The player, known for his not-so-humble ways, also announced his own return, posting a picture of himself on Instagram in the Swedish team kit with the caption “The return of the God”.
The highly-anticipated announcement comes just three months before the European Championship in June-July.
The 39-year-old AC Milan striker retired from the Swedish squad after the 2016 European Championship, with 116 caps and 62 international goals.
Media had speculated about Ibrahimovic’s possible return to the national team, but the Swedish Football Association had refused to comment until Tuesday, when he was announced among the players selected for the qualifiers against Georgia on March 25 and Kosovo on March 28, as well as a friendly against Estonia on March 31.
Ibrahimovic has been nursing a muscle injury lately but hopes to return to the pitch on Thursday when Milan face his former club, Manchester United, in the Europa League round of 16.
The Swede has made headlines over the years with cheeky hints that he could be returning to the Swedish team.
But things took a more serious turn last autumn when, after being awarded Sweden’s Footballer of the Year award for an astonishing 12th time in late November, he said that he missed playing for the team.
“The one who does not miss it, he has already finished his career. And I have not finished my career,” he told Swedish daily Aftonbladet.
Ibrahimovic and coach Janne Andersson then met for talks.
Andersson told reporters Tuesday: “I think we’ll be a better team with Zlatan, that’s why he was selected.” AFP)
•PHOTO: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Source Daily sports
Posted March 17, 2021
You may also like...
Edo Queens secure Champions League spot
JOF U-13 Cup Reaches Semi Finàl Stage
EPL: Spurs put two past spiritless Manchester United...
I didn’t want to join Man City –...
VAR could be used in Champions and Europa...
Bayern edge Mainz, close gap to leaders Dortmund...

NPFL: Rangers win big as Nasarawa shock Abia
Nigeria know World Table Tennis Champs foes today
Bayelsa athletics boss Oredipe maps out dev plans
Falcons stars dominate IFFHS Africa XI
Eguavoen backs NPFL talents for Nigeria squad despite CHAN failure
He’s very strong, Simeone returns Osimhen praise
Joshua boxing return still uncertain
NBA star Bane eyes Nigeria switch
Palmer 'very, very happy' at Chelsea, says Rosenior
AFCON 2025: VAR recording discloses what referee said before Morocco's penalty miss against Senegal
AFCON 2025 highlights: World-class stadiums, VAR drama, record attendance
Oliseh slams Osimhen for costing Eagles’ AFCON trophy
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,494 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,788 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,684 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,344 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,277 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,187 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,054 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,608 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,787 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,314 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,704 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,172 views)