© EuroFootball.com
In the summer, leaving the sinking ship of Turin's "Juventus" and moving to Milan, striker Zlatan Ibrahimović refused to represent the Swedish national team in the next two qualifying matches for the 2008 European Championship after being removed from the team before the previous match for disciplinary reasons.
Z.Ibrahimović, "Nantes" midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson, and "Aston Villa" defender Olof Mellberg were expelled from the national team camp by coach Lars Lagerbäck's decision on the fourth of September, missing the first qualifying match on September 6 against Liechtenstein, which the Swedes won 3-1.
"I don't think I can persuade anyone to play for the national team, or force them to do so according to FIFA rules," said L. Lagerbäck in a press release.
Z. Ibrahimović will definitely miss the home match on October 7 against the Spanish national team and the away match four days later against Iceland. The Swedish Football Association stated that the other two expelled players, C. Wilhelmsson and O. Mellberg, will play in the matches.
"If a player doesn't want to play for any reason, I see no reason to force them to do so," said the Swedish national team's coach. "I would rather let a player who is ready to give their all play."
