Two of world football’s biggest names will meet on Friday in the playoffs to determine Europe’s final four World Cup qualifiers with Zlatan Ibrahimovic saying Sweden deserve to go to Brazil more than Portugal.
Ever since last month’s draw pitted Portugal against Sweden, the matchup has been billed as a head-to-head between Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
It will take something special to budge them from the spotlight, but Iceland is attempting to do just that.
A Nordic nation better known for fishing and freezing temperatures than football, Iceland would become the least populous nation to play at a World Cup if it can get past Croatia.
“This is the most important game in the history of the Icelandic men’s team,” Iceland midfielder Olafur Ingi Skulason said.
In the other two-leg matches, it’s Ukraine against France and Greece vs. Romania. The second legs take place on Tuesday, when the 13 qualifiers from Europe will be finalized.
Owning two of the biggest egos in football, Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic have dominated the build-up to the most anticipated of the four playoffs.
Both players are in supreme form, with Ronaldo having scored 16 goals in 13 league games for Real Madrid this season and Ibrahimovic netting a string of brilliant goals for Paris Saint-Germain in the French league and Champions League.
They both belong on world football’s biggest stage, but one will not be making the trip to Brazil.
“With the squad and the individuals they have, Portugal is naturally the favorite,” Ibrahimovic said in an interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. “But we finished second in a group with Germany, which I consider the strongest squad in Europe, while they finished second in a group they should have won.
“So I think we deserve to go to Brazil more than they do.”
(In Sweden, local media have republished the famous picture of Ronaldo crying after Portugal’s loss to Greece in the 2004 European Championship final, suggesting he might shed more tears next week.)
“Let’s hope he looks like that after Nov. 19,” said Sweden defender Mikael Lustig, who will be tasked with marking a forward he describes as the “best football player in the world right now.”
Portugal is at home for the first leg.
Source: Supersport
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