Sweden have called up 40-year-old Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for their 2022 World Cup play-off against the Czech Republic, along with two other Serie A-based players.
The semi-final will be played on March 24, with the winners facing Poland.
Originally, Russia had been included in their path towards the tournament, but were excluded due to sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.
Ibrahimovic is called up after making his comeback for Milan following an Achilles tendon issue.
“I don’t think he can play the whole game, but he wants to be part of the squad and he can help us with his quality and leadership,” said coach Janne Andersson in a press conference.
Ibrahimovic turned 40 in October 2021 and has 120 senior caps for Sweden, in which he scored 62 goals.
Also involved are Bologna midfielder Mattias Svanberg and Sampdoria’s Albin Ekdal, as well as Juventus-owned Dejan Kulusevski, who is on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.
🇸🇪TRUPPEN🇸🇪
Här är herrlandslags-truppen som ska spela i VM-playoffet! 🙌🔥Är ni taggade på avgörandet!? 😃🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ls8Mq1BeEE
— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) March 16, 2022
Nooooo… he should play for Milan. Let him alone.
Jesus leave this man alone and let him play 5 consecutive matches without injuries before you call him up. We need him in this last part of the season. He’s only gonna get himself injured again playing for Sweden.
“I don’t think he can play the whole game, but he wants to be part of the squad and he can help us with his quality and leadership,” said coach Janne Andersson in a press conference.
This sums up what he can do with Milan next season. He might only start 10-15 games but he will still be hugely important at the club.