Zlatan Ibrahimovic will NOT be going to World Cup as Sweden chief confirms ex-Man Utd ace hasn’t changed his mind over retirement
LA Galaxy man retired from international football after Euro 2016, but had regularly insisted he wanted to go to Russia
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC will NOT be making a retirement U-turn to play for Sweden at the World Cup.
The former Manchester United forward, 36, has cheekily hinted that he could play at Russia 2018, having quit international action after his team were knocked out at the group stages of Euro 2016.
Swedish FA chief Lars Richt said: "I talked to Zlatan on Tuesday. He announced he did not change his mind about the national team - it is no."
The news comes as confirmation after Janne Andersson yesterday said: "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 played in the 2002 and 2006 World Cup but the Swedes failed to qualify for the final stages of the the 2010 and 2014 tournaments.
However, they did make it to Russia in style with a 1-0 play-off victory over four-time winners Italy.
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Ibrahimovic has spent most of this season on the sidelines recovering from a serious knee injury.
He was allowed to leave United in March for LA Galaxy, where he enjoyed an incredible two-goal debut — netting a superb 45-yard half volley.