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Tag: sweden

  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires from football

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires from football

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has announced his retirement from football at the age of 41.

    The AC Milan striker made the announcement on the San Siro pitch following his club’s final game of the Serie A season on Sunday.

    “I have many memories and many emotions in here,” the Sweden international said.

    “The first time I arrived here you gave me happiness. The second time, love. I will be a Milan fan for life.

    “The time has come to say goodbye to football, but not to you. See you around, if you’re lucky. Forza Milan and goodbye.”

    A clearly emotional Ibrahimovic was serenaded by the Milan fans and then given a guard of honour by his teammates as he left the pitch.

    The former Manchester United striker has spent most of the season on the sidelines due to injury.

    He played just four times for AC Milan and scored once in a 3-1 defeat at Udinese in March, and his departure from the club had already been announced.

    In July last year he renewed his contract for another year, in spite of facing the prospect of a lengthy rehabilitation from knee surgery.

    Shortly after helping AC Milan win the Serie A title he had undergone a planned procedure on his left knee.

    It was to repair damage and instability caused by a previous anterior cruciate ligament injury.

    As expected that meant a lengthy lay-off and Ibrahimovic did not make his first appearance of this season until the end of February.

    Ibrahimovic began his career at Malmo and joined Ajax in 2001 after rejecting the overtures of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

    “Arsene Wenger asked me to have a trial with Arsenal when I was 17. I turned it down. Zlatan doesn’t do auditions,” was how Ibrahimovic put it in his own inimitable style.

    The prolific striker also had spells with Juventus and Inter Milan before an unhappy spell at FC Barcelona, where he complained about how he was used by manager Pep Guardiola.

    “When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari,” Ibrahimovic said.

    “If you drive a Ferrari you put premium fuel in the tank, you drive on to the motorway and you floor the accelerator.

    “Guardiola filled up with diesel and went for a spin in the countryside. If that’s what he wanted, he should have bought himself a Fiat from the start.”

    Ibrahimovic joined AC Milan for the first time, initially on loan, in 2010 before moving to Paris St-Germain (PSG), where he scored 113 times in 122 league appearances.

    He also enjoyed spells with Manchester United, with whom he won the Europa League and League Cup, and LA Galaxy before returning to the San Siro.

    Sweden’s all-time top scorer with 62 goals in 122 matches, Ibrahimovic quit the national team after Euro 2016 but returned in 2021 for their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.

  • Newcastle striker Isak out until after World Cup

    Newcastle striker Isak out until after World Cup

    Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak will not play again until after the Qatar World Cup finals after suffering an injury setback, manager Eddie Howe said on Tuesday.

    The Swedish forward was signed on in a deal reported to be worth up to 60 million pounds (67.82 million dollars) from Real Sociedad in August.

    He has made only three appearances because of a thigh injury.

    “We don’t think we will see him again before the World Cup. He has had a setback on his thigh,” Howe told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s English Premier League (EPL) clash with Everton.

    “It’s very frustrating for him. As a new player coming to a new league and new club, you want to make an impact and he did in the first few games.”

    The 23-year-old Isak made an instant impact for Newcastle United, scoring on his debut against Liverpool and was also on target against Bournemouth but was injured while on international duty.

    “It’s been frustrating because he did a lot of work to get fit. He’s desperate to make his mark here,” Howe said.

    “If you are trying to look for a positive we will look for his injury to heal and we will get a mini pre-season to get him in peak physical condition.”

    The World Cup begins on Nov. 20 in Qatar and concludes on Dec. 18 with the Premier League resuming on Dec. 26.

    Newcastle United have lost only once in their opening 10 Premier League games, drawing six, and are sixth in the standings.

    They own the Premier League’s best defensive record with only nine goals conceded.

    Howe says an improved mentality has led to the vast improvement since he took charge nearly a year ago following the sacking of Steve Bruce.

    “We have the mentality here that we want to defend as a team, right from the strikers filtering all the way back to the goalkeeper,” Howe said.

    “We attack as a team as well. We try to be very brave and aggressive in all forms whether we are attacking or defending.

    “We go for perfection and that is a difficult bar to hit but we are trying to get there.”

  • Erdoğan renews threat to block Sweden from joining NATO

    Erdoğan renews threat to block Sweden from joining NATO

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan again threatened to block Sweden from joining NATO.

    “As long as the terrorist organisations are demonstrating on the streets of Sweden, and as long as the terrorists are inside the Swedish parliament, there is not going to be a positive approach from Turkey towards Sweden,”Erdoğan said.

    Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in mid-May in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    The two countries can only be admitted if all of the current 30 NATO members ratify the necessary accession protocols.

    Ankara has accused both Sweden and Finland of supporting Kurdish militants, as well as the group of U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, all of which Turkey classifies as terrorist groups.

    Sweden and Finland refute these accusations but reached an agreement earlier this summer to assure Turkey of their support against security risks.

    Turkey’s demands were repatriation of some suspects and Sweden lifting its arms embargo.

    In September, Sweden approved the export of weapons to Turkey for the first time since 2019.

    However, Turkey is now taking the position that agreements made at that time have not yet been fulfilled, especially by Sweden.

    Erdoğan described relations with Finland in more positive terms.

    Turkey and Hungary are now the only countries left to ratify the accession protocols.

    Hungary has however not threatened to block the procedure.

  • I will not retire and not give up – Ibrahimovic

    I will not retire and not give up – Ibrahimovic

    AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he’s not ready to retire from football.

    The 40-year-old is working his way back after undergoing a knee operation over the summer. He isn’t expected to return to action until the New Year.

    Ibrahimovic told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I’ll be back soon.

    “I will not retire. I will come back and not give up.”

    In his typical manner, Ibrahimovic adds: “When I see a stronger player than me, I’m ready to retire. But I haven’t seen anyone yet.”

  • Sweden ignores Russia’s threat, signs paper works to join NATO

    Sweden ignores Russia’s threat, signs paper works to join NATO

    Sweden one of the Scandinavian countries and neighbour to Russia has ignored threats to sign paper works to Join North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

    Recall that Turkey had also warned Sweden of the consequences of taking such decision amid the crisis between Ukraine and Russia.

    Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Swedish and Finnish delegations should not bother coming to Turkey to try to convince Turkey to approve the country’s NATO membership. He accused the two countries of dinning with terrorists and even allowing them (terrorists) to speak in the Parliaments

    Signing the application is a formal step by Stockholm toward joining the military alliance.

    Sweden has played neutrality in past years during both World Wars but now chosen to choose a side.

    Recently, the Swedish government stated that it’s now very imperative to pitch its tent with NATO for obvious reasons.

     

    “It feels very big, very serious, and it feels like we have arrived at a conclusion which is the best for Sweden,” Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Tuesday after signing the application.

    She said that having signed the document, it may take up to one year before their application is considered.

    “Now this week, this application will be submitted, together with Finland, in a day or so, and then it will be processed by NATO.”

    Russian President Vladimir Putin had said he was not bothered about the two nations joining NATO, adding that the move is not a threat to his country, but warned that military expansion into the territory will “certainly cause our response.”

     

  • I proved haters wrong at Man Utd – Ibrahimovic

    I proved haters wrong at Man Utd – Ibrahimovic

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he loved proving his doubters wrong at Manchester United.

    The AC Milan forward spent two successful years at Old Trafford between 2016 and 2018.

    Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals and won the Europa League and Carabao Cup during his debut campaign with the Red Devils.

    Speaking to ESPN’s The Gab & Juls Show podcast, the 40-year-old said: “I had fun.

    “I really enjoyed because when I came, everybody was against it. And then in England, they didn’t like me.

    “All these haters, after three months, they started to like me, I didn’t like them anymore.

    “I like people when they hate you because then they bring out the better of you. I had fun. [It] is a great competition, [an] amazing atmosphere.”

    He added: “I’m happy I played for United, which I think is the best team in England,’ he said. ‘And I think it was the right choice to go to Manchester United.

    “I think I came in a good moment. Because it’s easy to come to a club when the success is already there. It’s more difficult when you come and the challenge is different. And then if you manage to have a success, you’re part of the story. So the fans [were] great to me. And I really enjoyed [it]. A lot of things happened.”

  • WAR: Russia threatens Finland, Sweden over plans to join NATO

    WAR: Russia threatens Finland, Sweden over plans to join NATO

    Amid the military operations in Ukraine, Russia has warned Finland and Sweden against joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO.

    The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova said there would be severe military and political consequences if Finland and Sweden opt to join NATO.

    Both countries share borders with Russia in the Arctic Circle.

    Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Zakharova warned that mooting the idea of NATO would be detrimental to both countries.

    “Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences.

    “We regard the Finnish government’s commitment to a military non-alignment policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe,” Zakharova said.

    The decision of Ukraine to join NATO is believed to be responsible for Russia’s attack.

  • Cameroon make move for Man Utd youngster Elanga

    Cameroon make move for Man Utd youngster Elanga

    Cameroon have made a move for Manchester United youngster Anthony Elanga.

    The teenager has already represented Sweden at U21 level, scoring seven goals in eight appearances for his country.

    The senior side face Czech Republic in a World Cup semi-final play-off next month, and Elanga is expected to be selected by Janne Andersson.

    However, the Manchester Evening News report that Cameroon have also been in touch with the player regarding a call-up.

    Elanga’s father, Joseph, represented Cameroon 17 times between 1998 and 2002, but his son is still expected to pledge his allegiance to Sweden.

  • Sweden’s first female Prime Minister resigns hours after securing appointment

    Sweden’s first female Prime Minister resigns hours after securing appointment

    Sweden’s Prime Minister-elect Magdalena Andersson on Wednesday handed in her resignation hours after being appointed by parliament after her budget failed to pass and the junior Green Party quit the coalition government.

    While her stint was unexpectedly brief, Andersson made history by becoming the first woman elected to the post of prime minister in Sweden — she was to formally take over on Friday.

    The 54-year-old economist who has served as finance minister for the past seven years said she hoped to be elected to the position again soon as the head of a minority government made up of only the Social Democrats.

    “There is a constitutional practice that a coalition government should resign when one party quits,” Andersson, a Social Democrat, told reporters.

    “I don’t want to lead a government whose legitimacy will be questioned.”

    Just hours earlier, parliament had elected Andersson after she clinched a last-minute deal with the Left Party to raise pensions in exchange for its crucial backing in Wednesday’s vote in parliament.

    But the small Centre Party then withdrew its support for Andersson’s budget, due to the concessions made to the Left, leaving her budget with insufficient votes to pass in parliament.

    Lawmakers instead adopted an alternative budget presented by the opposition conservative Moderates, Christian Democrats, and far-right Sweden Democrats.

    Andersson grudgingly said she would still be able to govern with that budget.

    But in an even heavier and surprise blow, Greens leader Per Bolund said his party could not tolerate the opposition’s “historic budget, drafted for the first time with the far-right”, and quit the government.

    Among other things, it could not accept the opposition’s planned tax cut on petrol, which it said would lead to higher emissions.

  • Women’s Olympic Football final: Canada edge out Sweden in penalty shoot-out

    Women’s Olympic Football final: Canada edge out Sweden in penalty shoot-out

    Canada beat Sweden on penalties to win women’s football gold at Tokyo 2020.

    It marks a first Olympic gold in the competition for the Canucks, who won successive bronze medals in London and Rio.

    The game went to extra time after Canada’s Jessie Fleming equalised from the penalty spot to cancel out Stina Blackstenius’ opener.

    Midfielder Julia Grosso scored the winning penalty in the shootout as Canada won 3-2.

    In a game of few chances, Sweden’s Blackstenius opened the scoring in the 34th minute, beating goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe with her low, first-time strike from Kosovare Asllani’s cross.

    But Fleming equalised from the penalty spot after veteran forward Christine Sinclair was fouled by Amanda Ilestedt.

    Referee Anastasia Pustovoytova initially waved away Canada’s appeals, but the Russian pointed to the spot after the video assistant referee showed the Canadian was kicked from behind as the pair challenged for a loose ball inside the box.

    With the scores level after 120 minutes, both sides looked nervous as they lined up for the shootout, which lacked real quality as seven of the 12 penalties either missed or saved.

    Nathalie Bjorn and Olivia Schough scored from the spot for Sweden, but Grosso won it for Canada after Fleming and Deanne Rose also converted their spot-kicks.

    Sweden have taken the silver in successive Olympic women’s football finals after their Rio 2016 loss to Germany.

    Canada midfielder Quinn is the first openly transgender athlete to win an Olympic medal. Canada and Quinn won bronze in Rio 2016 before Quinn came out in September 2020.

    The victory is a first major title for Canada boss Bev Priestman, who was born in County Durham and coached England’s women’s under-17 squad before becoming Phil Neville’s assistant coach with the senior team from 2018-2020.

    She was appointed head coach of Canada in October 2020 after previous spells coaching their youth teams.

    On Thursday, the USA beat Australia in a seven-goal thriller to claim the bronze medal.