NOT WATCHING

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said that he will not be following the World Cup 2014 after his team failed to reach the finals of the tournament. Sweden and Portugal were involved in a play-off match to determine their future at the World Cup finals. Portugal managed to qualify for the tournament after a 4-2 win on aggregate. Ibrahimovic scored two goals for Sweden, but he was overshadowed by Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored all of the goals.

This match was seen as the competition between Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo since these two players have become very important for their national teams. The 32-year-old striker has been in impressive form for PSG. Even though he could not replicate this form in the first leg, he came alive in the second leg by scoring two goals to cancel out Ronaldo’s opener. However, the Real Madrid man came back to show that he is one of the best in the running for the FIFA Ballon d’Or award by scoring a hat-trick to book Portugal’s place in the World Cup.

“One thing is for sure, a World Cup without me is nothing to watch so it is not worthwhile to wait for the World Cup. Congratulations to Portugal but both teams deserved to get to the World Cup. It was probably the last attempt to reach the World Cup with the national team for me. The disappointment of course is great now that the World Cup in Brazil will remain a dream for the Swedish national team,” said Ibrahimovic, who also congratulated Ronaldo after the match.

After the match, Ibrahimovic said that he will not be watching the competition since it does not feature him. The outspoken striker is regarded as one of the finest in the world.

Ibrahimovic is also included in the 23-man shortlist to win the Ballon d’Or award.