DOHA: Zlatan Ibrahimovic hinted Thursday his international career will end after Euro 2016 in France, claiming it was “too soon” to commit to Sweden’s 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who has played 111 times for his country, said he could not say if we would play for his country after next summer.
“When it comes to the national team, I have the Europeans. I am happy we have reached the European Championships and I will be playing and I will enjoy it,” he said.
“What happens after, I don’t know. If I will be playing the qualification for Russia, I don’t know. That is too far, too soon to answer.”
Ibrahimovic was talking to Middle Eastern-based reporters by phone ahead of PSG’s winter tour to Qatar, which starts on December 27.
He made his debut for Sweden back in 2001 and has scored 62 times for his country.
The French champions will play his old team Inter in Doha in a friendly on December 30.
The 34-year-old helped his team qualify through the play-offs last month, scoring twice against Denmark.
Sweden were then drawn in a tough group of Belgium, Italy and Ireland in France next year.
“We are there now and we will enjoy every game we play,” he said.
“The toughest opponent, I think, will be all three because every team that is in the European championships is a good team that’s why they are there.
“We want to go further (than the group stage), that’s our mentality. go as far as possible.”
He said the French people would cheer Sweden as well because of his exploits at PSG.
“We can do fantastic things,” he added.
In a wide-ranging interview, Ibrahimovic also said he was uncertain about his club future.
His Paris contract runs out in June and said he did not know where he would play next year.
“In my thoughts now I don’t have any destination,” he said.
“This is a new situation for me.
“Normally, I have a contract for years and then change club but this is something different. My contract ends and then you are free to do whatever you want, so something totally new for me.”
The Swede also backed the controversial Qatar World Cup in 2022.
“I feel and I think it will be an amazing thing,” he said. “This is something I don’t want to miss.”
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Zlatan hints at end of international career
Zlatan hints at end of international career
Chess-Norway’s Carlsen wins first FIDE Freestyle World Championship
Norway’s Magnus Carlsen added another crown to his collection on Sunday by becoming the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion after a comeback win over Fabiano Caruana in Germany.
The chess master secured the title with a cautious draw in the fourth and final game, clinching a 2.5–1.5 match victory against his 33-year-old American opponent in Weissenhaus.
Sunday’s turning point came in the thrilling third game, in which Carlsen, 35, pulled off a stunning win from a seemingly lost position, swinging the entire contest in his favor.
The world number one only needed a draw in the decisive fourth game, and that’s exactly what he got in an equal endgame, with Caruana missing late opportunities to mount a comeback.
Carlsen has now won 21 world titles in various formats.
The World Championship marked a breakthrough collaboration between FIDE and private organizer Freestyle Chess, staging the first officially recognized title in this format.
Carlsen had previously failed to capture the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship, making this victory particularly sweet for the chess great.
In the bronze medal match, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Germany’s Vincent Keymer, securing his spot by drawing from a winning position in the final game.
Both finalists and Abdusattorov have qualified for next year’s championship.
The tournament’s lower placings saw Hans Niemann of the United States take fifth with a 2-0 victory over India’s Arjun Erigaisi, while Armenia’s Levon Aronian won his Armageddon game against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov for seventh place.
In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva prevailed over Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk after their final encounter ended in a draw.
The chess master secured the title with a cautious draw in the fourth and final game, clinching a 2.5–1.5 match victory against his 33-year-old American opponent in Weissenhaus.
Sunday’s turning point came in the thrilling third game, in which Carlsen, 35, pulled off a stunning win from a seemingly lost position, swinging the entire contest in his favor.
The world number one only needed a draw in the decisive fourth game, and that’s exactly what he got in an equal endgame, with Caruana missing late opportunities to mount a comeback.
Carlsen has now won 21 world titles in various formats.
The World Championship marked a breakthrough collaboration between FIDE and private organizer Freestyle Chess, staging the first officially recognized title in this format.
Carlsen had previously failed to capture the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship, making this victory particularly sweet for the chess great.
In the bronze medal match, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Germany’s Vincent Keymer, securing his spot by drawing from a winning position in the final game.
Both finalists and Abdusattorov have qualified for next year’s championship.
The tournament’s lower placings saw Hans Niemann of the United States take fifth with a 2-0 victory over India’s Arjun Erigaisi, while Armenia’s Levon Aronian won his Armageddon game against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov for seventh place.
In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva prevailed over Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk after their final encounter ended in a draw.
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