Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘will NOT be at World Cup’, confirms Sweden manager Janne Andersson
LA Galaxy man retired from international football after Euro 2016, but had regularly insisted he wanted to go to Russia
SWEDEN manager Janne Andersson has ended Zlatan Ibrahimovic's World Cup dream by confirming he will not be taking him to Russia.
The former Manchester United striker, 36, retired from international football after his team were knocked out at the group stages of Euro 2016.
However, despite not participating in the qualifying campaign, the new LA Galaxy hero has regularly hinted he wanted to go to the World Cup.
But Andersson has now dashed those hopes, telling : "Ibrahimovic said no to the national team.
"He was not going to be in the team after the European Championship, and I respected him.
"If you rejected the team, I do not think you should come back. I respect what he said and those who said 'yes'.
"[Ibrahimovic] has not called me, but he's definitely not included in the plans for the World Cup."
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Ibrahimovic has played in two World Cups — 2002 and 2006 — but the Swedes failed to qualify for the final stages of the the 2010 and 2014 tournaments.
However, the Scandinavians did make it to Russia in heroic fashion following a 1-0 play-off victory over four-time winners Italy.
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Ibrahimovic has spent most of this campaign on the sidelines recovering from a serious knee injury.
And he was allowed to leave United in March for LA Galaxy, where he enjoyed an incredible two-goal debut — including a superb 45-yard half volley.