Two begins. Three assists. Six factors.
The return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to worldwide soccer has been a powerful success for Sweden’s nationwide crew, despite the fact that the AC Milan striker failed to attain in both of the wins over Georgia or Kosovo in World Cup qualifying.
At 39 years previous, Ibrahimovic is about extra than simply objectives at this stage of his profession. He sees himself as a mentor to an thrilling crop of younger attackers, led by Alexander Isak.
🇸🇪 Zlatan Ibrahimovic has assisted in each matches for Sweden since popping out of worldwide retirement
🤪 He solely has one help in 15 league appearances for AC Milan this season pic.twitter.com/d93Lp7mpr9
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 29, 2021
“I told them, ‘I do not have to score goals, I will help you instead,’” mentioned Ibrahimovic, who’s now not the entire focus of Sweden’s attacking recreation plan like he was earlier than retiring from worldwide responsibility in 2016.
Fears that Ibrahimovic’s return would have an effect on the stability of the crew have up to now proved unfounded, with Sweden following up a 1-0 win over Georgia on Thursday with a 3-0 victory at Kosovo on Sunday.
There are a lot sterner checks to come back for the Swedes — notably at house towards Spain of their subsequent qualifier in September — however coach Janne Andersson is delighted with how the nation’s star participant has been reintegrated.
“I am very happy with him and his professionalism in everything he does,” Andersson mentioned. “He is spectacular. He doesn’t need us to speak about his age but when we do, I can say that his professionalism is without doubt one of the explanation why he’s nonetheless at this degree.
“And it was fun that we could use him better in his own game. It’s fun that he was able to contribute.”
Incredible help by Zlatan Ibrahimović 🤩@HisenseSports | #EQSkills | #WCQ pic.twitter.com/ua8XvRohxu
— European Qualifiers (@EURO2020) March 26, 2021
Ibrahimovic, who will probably be rested for a pleasant towards Estonia on Wednesday in an effort to handle his workload, began up entrance alongside the 21-year-old Isak for each of the qualifiers final week. Isak did extra of the operating — not simply within the vast attacking channels however again into midfield to assist out defensively — leaving Ibrahimovic to remain additional upfield and discover areas to fret his opponents.
Ibrahimovic’s hold-up play inside the realm was significantly spectacular, utilizing his peak and shut management to deliver the attackers round him into play. It was clear that was a particular recreation plan of Andersson’s.
That was the origin of Viktor Claesson’s winner towards Georgia, which got here after Ibrahimovic introduced down an extended ball and turned it again into the center of the penalty field together with his subsequent contact. The opening purpose towards Kosovo was scored by Ludwig Augustinsson from Ibrahimovic’s acrobatic flick.
His low, sq. go to Isak led to the Real Sociedad striker scoring on the second try additionally within the first half, whereas Ibrahimovic was off the sphere when Sebastian Larsson transformed a penalty to make it 3-0.
𝐈𝐛𝐫𝐚 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭
Zlatan Ibrahimovic produced a superb backheel flick to arrange Sweden’s opener of their 3-0 win in Kosovo. The first consecutive assists in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers video games since 2012.#WCQDiMolaTV pic.twitter.com/6KmRgRjxfm
— MolaTVSports (@MolaTVSports) March 29, 2021
“When we hit the long ball … Zlatan is fantastic in that part of the game,” Andersson mentioned. “Neither he nor I care if he scores a goal or not. It just feels very good to have him out there.”
Isak, who appears to have established himself forward of Marcus Berg, has flaws when it comes to his ruthlessness in entrance of purpose and energy on the ball. But he has spoken of the affect Ibrahimovic, Sweden’s report scorer and probably its best ever participant, has had on him in only some days of coaching.
And that seems to be a key a part of Ibrahimovic’s position within the Sweden squad heading into the European Championship.
“I will put pressure on the other players,” he mentioned, “so that they push themselves to perform even more.”
