Dhe dominant role of Zlatan Ibrahimovic was not only an advantage for the Swedish national football team from the point of view of former HSV professional Albin Ekdal. The gestures and sharp comments from the striker have damaged the confidence of some of his teammates, Ekdal said on Swedish radio on Saturday. “Our team consisted of a world star and ten decent players who were supposed to help him dominate. This tactic didn’t work, ”said the 30-year-old former Hamburg player who now plays for Sampdoria Genoa.
The 38-year-old Ibrahimovic last played for the 2016 European Football Championship for Sweden, which left France last in the group stage. The attacker, now active at AC Milan, scored 62 goals in 116 international matches.
It was agreed that a player of such caliber should get the ball as often as possible. Relying on an individual and thereby gradually neglecting your own responsibility does not work in football or any other team sport, explained Ekdal.
Nobody had reached their level or their maximum ability. “After that, I thought: Maybe many of the national team were unable to cope with Zlatan’s claims,” he added. Without Ibrahimovic, Sweden reached the quarter-finals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. There, there was close cohesion, harmony and self-confidence in the team, said Ekdal.
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