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February 14, 2012
Ibrahimovic confirms national team hiatus
Published: 7 Dec 09 16:54 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/23704/20091207/
Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he lacks motivation to play for the Swedish national team following the side's failure to qualify for this summer's World Cup.
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"It is a huge honour to play for the squad but we should wait to see what will happen in the future. At the moment I have other things on my mind."
Ibrahimovic, who has scored 22 goals in 62 internationals, was voted Sweden's player of the year for the fourth straight time last month for his exploits with Inter Milan and the national team ahead of his move to Barca.
While he has dazzled for Barca and Inter Milan -- he was named Italian Player of the Year in 2009 -- Ibrahimovic has at times struggled to score for Sweden.
The Swedes will miss out on playing in South Africa next year after appearing in the last five major football championships: the European championships in 2000, 2004 and 2008 and the World Cups of 2002 and 2006.
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I guess national pride is not motivation enough.
Struggled? More like under-performed times a million. I love Zlatan. Great striker he is but he had a 2year goal drought from 2006 to the 2008 Euro's. He only scored 2 goals in qualifying and 1 was a fluke against Albania and the other was against Malta-a team of fisherman.
He may not feel the need to play for Sweden, but when he does he needs to put his A GAME into it.
Zlaten's Fifa's player of the year.
2009 - not ranked in top 5
2008 - 16th
2007 - not ranked in top 20
2006 - 9th
2005 - 14th
2004 - not ranked in top 20
When are Swedes going to wake up an realize that to have have any chance of competing at the top level in football they can't put all their hopes in ONE good but not truly excellent player.
Personally, I feel he's doing the right thing. Much like Andy Murry whose dropped out of the British Davis Cup team while they wallow in the 3rd division.