Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists Euro 2016 without him is 'unimaginable'
Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed that the Euro 2016 without him is ‘unthinkable’ and he remains confident that Sweden will qualify for next summer’s tournament, according to the Mirror. Zlatan and his teammates will have to do it the hard way after finishing third in Group G behind Austria and Russia.
This is not the first time Sweden are on the verge of failing to qualify for an international tournament. Ibrahimovic captained his national team that failed to reach last year’s World Cup, losing out in a dramatic play-off to Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.
Despite scoring eight goals in the qualifying round, the PSG striker and his compatriots now face a play-off against either Denmark, Norway, the Republic of Ireland or Slovenia to try and reach the finals of Euro 2016 which will be held in France next summer.
However, the 34-year-old Swedish icon, who is the record goalscorer for both his club and country, remains confident that his side will sail through.
“I don't want to miss the European Championship, it's unlikely and unthinkable for me to see this tournament ongoing without me.” Ibrahimovic said in an interview. “We didn't go in the classical way, so we will find out another one to go. Whoever will be our opponent in the playoff, it will be tough. In this kind of games, each team give its 200%. It's an all-in. But I'm sure we will qualify.”
Sweden’s failure to qualify for World Cup 2014 was hard done by a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired team, who upstaged Ibra’s brace by outscoring three goals himself. It was enough to ensure that the PSG star player would miss the much anticipated World Cup in Brazil.
UEFA has now revealed that Hungary, Sweden, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ukraine will avoid each other in the playoffs as top seeds, with possible opponents for the quartet including Denmark, Norway, Republic of Ireland and Slovenia. The play-off matches will take place from November 12 to 17.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic receives gold record award
Ibrahimovic looks to be breaking records on and off the field. The 34-year-old is Sweden’s highest scorer and he did it in the club level as well with PSG earlier this year.
However, in this instance, he broke yet another record when his version of ‘Du Gamla’ – an advert in 2014, turned out to be the most streamed national anthem. It reached the 3 million milestone this month, as per the reports on Guardian.
“I have … what’s the best way of putting it … decided not to sing it. It hasn’t clicked for me.” he said.
“I am proud to be Swedish, absolutely, and I am proud to be the captain of the national team. When I go out on the pitch I want to give everything. But when it comes to the national anthem it hasn’t clicked for me to say or sing these words.”
“Until now. This new national anthem is exactly what we need. The old was boring. This goes straight in. I hope this will become the new one. And who better to do that new one but Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Max Martin?”