ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC REFUSED to rule out his chances of playing for Sweden in the World Cup on Friday as he launched his Major League Soccer career with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The veteran striker is at the centre of a national guessing-game in Sweden over whether he may or may not be brought out of international retirement for this year’s finals in Russia.
On Friday as he was unveiled by the Galaxy in California, Ibrahimovic was coy about playing in Russia.
“Let me first enjoy it here,” Ibrahimovic said. “What happens here will take it further. But my focus is on Galaxy, prepare good for Galaxy, be available, help the coach, help the club, whatever they need.
“The World Cup is another question. I’ve said it before. Nobody needs to call anybody. If they want, I’m there.”
Sweden coach Janne Andersson has so far pointedly resisted the urge to make the first move, saying earlier in March that Zlatan could call him if he wanted to be considered for selection.
“Zlatan is very welcome to call me,” Andersson said, hinting he would not take the initiative.
Ibrahimovic, however, declined to clarify his hopes when asked on Friday if he wanted to play in the World Cup.
“Let’s keep them on their toes,” the striker said. “Let’s see. Because they’re all talking about whether I should go or if I should not go. Because they have it good, they have it bad. But so far they didn’t win nothing. And I know how to win.”
Great article. I’m sure some of the unions will snap him up
The IRFU should be hiring him, we’re badly in need of a top level ref.
@Jim Demps: Absolutely Jim some of the refs in the PRO14 over the last few years have been poor enough.
Doyle is certainly better than most of them imo.
@TL55: Since John Lacey stepped away we have been crying out for a top referee. Frank Murphy and Andrew Brace have a good bit to go to be considered top quality refs. I’m not a fan of George Clancy either but I thought he did a top notch job in the Leinster v Ulster game.
To think ben whitehouse is still reffing international games and pro 14 games
So much of good refereeing is in the communication to the players-in almost all sports and Doyle was good in that regard. I remember him reffing a Japan and Ireland senior game couple of years back which I couldn’t believe at the time but he didn’t do anything untoward and hopefully for him he’ll be back into the swing of things somewhere asap
@Baz: Alain Rolland regularly reffed France because he was registered as an Irish ref, there was also a Nordie ref registered as Scottish though he never popped up as a ref at men’s international level. The Scottish union could do a lot worse than hiring Doyle as they haven’t had an international level men’s XVs ref for yonks. Their best ref works the 7s series and some of the women’s tournaments, I think I’ve only seen him do maybe one pro14 game.
He’s a sound man, JP.
Hopefully he can stay in Rugby fulltime.
But what actually is a Gowl ?
@Daragh Curtis: An old wooden ship from the American civil war era.
@Cian Nolan: perhaps, but I don’t think this was what POM was referring to.
It’s a word for the female genitalia, interestingly enough (from yesterday’s Irish Times) from the Irish word gabhal meaning crotch. Gabhal mná apparently is the full version.
@Daragh Curtis: Robb Stark is one. You’re welcome
@Decko49: nailed it!
@Daragh Curtis: A gowl is essentially what the “C-word” is everywhere else.