Sweden coach Janne Andersson named a 23-man World Cup squad on Tuesday that dashed the black out any desires for fans hoping to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic include at Russia 2018. Sweden beat Italy in the World Cup playoffs last November, starting theory that previous Juventus, AC Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic would leave worldwide retirement.
Two weeks prior the 6ft 4ins (1.95m) striker, who quit the national squad in 2016 and is currently playing for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major Soccer League, said he would not alter his opinion on the issue.
Sweden squad:
Goalkeepers: Robin Olsen (FC Copenhagen/DEN), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Swansea/ENG), Karl-Johan Johnsson (Guingamp/FRA).
Defenders: Andreas Granqvist (Krasnodar/RUS), Victor Nilsson Lindelof, (Manchester United/ENG), Mikael Lustig (Celtic/SCO), Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen/GER), Pontus Jansson (Leeds/ENG), Emil Krafth (Bologna/ITA), Filip Helander (Bologna/ITA), Martin Olsson (Swansea/ENG).
Midfielders: Sebastian Larsson (Hull/ENG), Gustav Svensson (Seattle Sounders FC/USA), Albin Ekdal (Hamburg/GER), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig/GER), Viktor Claesson (Krasnodar/RUS), Jimmy Durmaz (Toulouse/FRA), Marcus Rohden (Crotone/ITA), Oscar Hiljemark (Genoa/ITA)
Forwards: Marcus Berg (Al Ain/UAE), John Guidetti (Alaves/ESP), Isaac Kiese-Thelin (Waslan Beeveren/BEL), Ola Toivonen (Toulouse/FRA)