Eden Hazard tipped Zlatan Ibrahimovic to keep making an impact in football after a 1-0 defeat to Belgium brought the star striker’s Sweden career to an end.
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Nice:- Reinvigorated by Romelu Lukaku’s goals, Belgium take on under-par Sweden on Wednesday with both sides still in the hunt for a Euro 2016 last-16 berth.
“The last game [at Euro 2016] will be my last for Sweden, so I hope it will not be tomorrow”, Ibrahimovic said.
Ibrahimovic said in an interview, “and I am proud of what I’ve achieved and the Swedish flag will always carry with mine”. Because I’m very proud to be the captain of Sweden and of what I’ve achieved. “I’m very grateful to all the supporters”.
Ibrahimovic, formerly of Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan, is now a free agent after leaving Paris St Germain and has been heavily linked with Manchester United.
“I think we have one worldwide player at the same level as Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and that’s Ibra”.
The captain revealed ahead of the game that he would be retiring from Sweden duty when it went out of the tournament, a fate that was sealed by Radja Nainggolan’s impressive strike six minutes from time.
Even if Sweden loses and fails to qualify for the knockout stages, Ibrahimovic said he would not be disappointed with such an end to his 15-year global career.
Sweden’s quarterfinals is much hard at now.
Coach Erik Hamren acknowledged the problem although he did not give any clues about changes.
“It feels heavy, it feels disappointing but at the same time I enjoyed it”, Ibrahimovic said.
Group E has already seen Italy finish top, so Belgium need just a point against Sweden to finish second.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots during the Euro 2016 Group E match against the Republic of Ireland at Bordeaux June 18, 2016.
There was to be no salvation for Sweden, nor one more game for Ibrahimovic.
“I don’t want these permutations, I don’t want a goalless draw because with 10 minutes to go we might concede a goal and that would be a nightmare situation”, he said Tuesday.
“We will not find another player like him in Sweden, because he is unique”. Wilmots. “But that will depend on us”. “Tactically, we were better on the counter”.
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Belgium began their campaign against Italy and were totally outclassed as they lost the game 2-0 with goals coming from Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle.
