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Sweden have revealed their 23-man roster for this summer’s European Championship in France, and it’s clear that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will have to be at his very best if the Swedes are to maintain any hope of advancing from a very difficult Group E.
The opponents for the Swedes, ranked 36th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, will be Ireland (31st), Italy (15th) and Belgium (2nd). Key for Swedish aspirations, apart from Ibrahimovic, will be the play of six players from the Swedish U-21 team that won the European Under-21 Championship last year.
Photo: @LigueSphera | Twitter
Part of that core of players includes former Manchester City striker John Guidetti, who now plays with Celta Vigo in Spain.
Ibrahimovic scored 11 goals for Sweden in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers, including three against Denmark in the decisive qualifying play-offs. He’ll be looking to score in his fourth straight European Championships, having scored twice at Euro 2004, twice at Euro 2008 and twice at Euro 2012.
In total, he’s scored 62 goals for Sweden in 112 appearances. Ibrahimovic is currently the subject of transfer speculation, with his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expiring this summer. The three-time Ligue 1 Player of the Year has no shortage of potential suitors.
Manchester United appeared to be leading the hunt for his signature, but they’ve jeopardized the move by falling out of the Champions League places in England.
Ibrahimovic could be persuaded to return to AC Milan, a club with which he holds a special bond. More audacious rumors have Zlatan moving to China or MLS, where the Philadelphia Union supposedly hold his MLS rights.
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