A BAFFLED JANNE Andersson dismissed talk of former captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic coming out of retirement to re-join Sweden after the country qualified for the 2018 World Cup at the expense of Italy.
Sweden produced a gritty defensive effort to hold four-time world champions Italy to a goalless draw in Milan on Monday – securing a 1-0 aggregate victory.
It was a win that defied the odds and condemned Italy to miss the World Cup for the first time since 1958 but talk quickly turned to the possible return of Sweden’s all-time leading goalscorer Ibrahimovic, who walked away from international football following Euro 2016.
The 36-year-old Manchester United striker – who has not played since April due to a knee ligament injury – dominated the post-match news conference but Sweden head coach Andersson preferred to focus on the group of players who sealed the country’s passage to Russia next year.
This is incredible! This player [Ibrahimovic] has just stopped to play with Sweden one year and a half ago and we are still here talking about him,” Andersson told reporters post-match.
“Gosh, we need to talk about the great players we have in this team I believe.”
On the match itself at San Siro, Andersson added: “What I wanted to say was that this was the demonstration that our collective acted like this during the whole length of the play-offs.
“We have many heroes tonight. I am a bit moved but obviously very happy with the result.”
“When Ibrahimovic was here with us we played a different style of football,” he continued. “But considering that he has decided to leave international football, he is a great champion but we had to adapt and found another style/game.”
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Is son injured? have a feeling Ajax might win this one
@Nathan Mawhinney: Suspended
@Nathan Mawhinney: suspended for the first leg
@Nathan Mawhinney: son is suspended. Think you might be right, Spurs attacking football should suit Ajax to play on the break. As a long suffering Spurs fan I know never to have high expectations..just try to enjoy the football..
@Nathan Mawhinney: apparently spurs have never lost a champions league final! :-)
Spurs medical team were very poor in treating Vertonghen, the ref showed more concern than they did. Time for independent HIAs to be introduced
Handy number for Ajax, they must have been delighted with the draw.
@Orla Smith: Tottenham ,Tottenham no one can stop em
We’re gonna do it again
We’re going to bring the big cup back to White Hart Lane
So ,come on you Spurs
Ahh the glory days of soccer .
@Orla Smith: This is going to be a great game of football.
@Quentin Moriarty: Hahahaha…
Jez spurs can’t get their foot on the ball. Very impressive start from AJAX.
Ajax play some great football! really slick moves. Very entertaining
Ajax have been a joy to watch insofar. Tottenham struggling to get any meaningful possession.
Van de beek had alot of time on the ball b4 lettin fly
@Vote4Pedro: You should have been a football pundit.
@Orla Smith: oh my, the intellectual racist has a sense of humour
I’m going 3-1 Ajax
Ajax could run away with this in the second half if Tottenham attack there counter attacking football is superb
Well done Ajax deserved win against the “tin lids”…these bridesmaids won’t score 2 in Amsterdam…therefore should be a great final between Ajax and Barcelona…me thinks…
If llorente was free spurs were robbed?
@Dougal67: didn’t he score the goal that put them through to the semis?
@The Bloody Nine: I was being sarcastic, he’s an awful player height that’s it if he was under 6ft Finn harps wouldn’t have him, if the ball was covered in glue it would bounce off him, I would probably beat him for pace and I’m 51
See if I can get an answer here haven’t on any other hys with spurs fans. What exactly does deli alli do? Can’t tackle no pace doesn’t create doesn’t score goes missin for ages jees 10mins in before I heard his name tonight? Team sheet every game squad depth must be bad.
Poch has messed up his starting tactics multiple times now. Liverpool , Dortmund , Man United.off the top if my head.not a Spurs fan but he seems to get away with these blunders..anyone with a brain said a back 3 was illadvised.
That Ajax side is going to be ripped apart in the summer
@Willy Motley: I think they will get ripped in the champions league final too.
@Freddie Rincon: explain why
Just hope there’s no brain farts by spurs defenders COYS