ZLATAN KEEPS PLAYING

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AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that he will continue playing for the Sweden national team, despite approaching the end of his career. The 30-year-old striker is entering into the final few years of his career. He has been one of the national icons for the Swedish football, but there have been rumours that the AC Milan striker could hang up the international boots following the Euro 2012 exit for Sweden in the group stages. Due to the form of the AC Milan striker, many expected Sweden to get past the group stages.

However, they suffered defeats in a number of the matches to be eliminated in the group stages itself. Following the exit of the nation, it has been rumoured that the 30-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be hanging up his international boots, but the AC Milan striker rejected such speculation by saying that he intends to carry on playing for the national team as long as possible. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become a surprise transfer target for French club PSG. The Swedish striker joined AC Milan only a few seasons ago, but has helped them win the league title after many seasons without one. It is thought that former AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti is keen to bring him to the French capital.

“I’ll continue with the national team, absolutely. I’m still motivated and I want a lot more. This doesn’t mean anything in my mind. It just makes me more motivated. I want to get better than I am, and I want to continue to develop. Physically and mentally I’ve felt really good. But what good is that when you don’t win? I’d rather win and not play well than to play well and not win,” said Ibrahimovic after the exit of Sweden from the Euro 2012.

SWEDEN STRUGGLE IN THE AIR

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Sweden again demonstrated their seeming inability to defend headers at set pieces in their defeat to co hosts Ukraine in their Euro 2012 opener. Despite this problem head coach Erik Hamren is not overly worried by the issue.

Sweden took the lead in their opener only to fall foul to two headers from Ukrainian hero Andriy Shevchenko. Shevchenko’s brace means that the Swedes have now conceded five headed goals in their last three games. With England, who are fast becoming set piece specialists next on the cards the Swedes will have to improve quickly or face falling foul to the likes of John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll, all specialists in the air.

Hamren, though was eager to focus on praising Shevchenko’s instinctive finishing rather than criticising his sides defending. “He was really good in the box, two really good goals. That made the result. Good for him, bad for us.” Whilst this is a gracious way to take defeat it will not be of much help to the Swedes in their upcoming fixtures against France and England. If they are to qualify they will have to turn their form around and one would imagine would have to take something from both of their remaining games, starting with Friday’s clash with Steven Gerrard‘s England.

Hamren insisted that his side would not get “hung up” on their defensive frailties, having conceded from three headers in their recent games against Iceland and Serbia coming into this tournament. Prior to the Ukraine game they insisted they would worry about the defensive problems “the day we lose”. Well, having now lost to Ukraine it may well be time for the Swedes to start to worry and to do something about their aerial problems, and soon. Their task will be hard enough against both England and France and they do not want to be gifting either side easy chances in the air.