Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Sweden star suspended for the World Cup play-off match
Zlatan Ibrahimović is used to creating headlines on the field, but his latest headline will guarantee that he is off the field for the semi-finals of Sweden’s World Cup qualifiers playoffs.
After coming on as a substitute in the second half on Sunday against Spain, Ibrahimović charged Spain’s Cesar Azpilicueta and violently controlled the Chelsea defender with his shoulder.
The Swedish star received a yellow card, his second in the qualifying round, which means that he will be suspended for the team’s first World Cup play-off match in March.
To make matters worse, the incident occurred in the 93rd minute, just as the match was about to end. Spain pulled out the victory thanks to a winner in the 86th minute from Álvaro Morata, who won the group and automatically qualified for the World Cup 2022.
Although Azpilicueta took a hit from 6-foot-5 Ibrahimović, Azpilicueta seemed to be in good spirits after the win.
The new UEFA play-off structure will include the top 10 runners-up and the top two remaining UEFA Nations League teams. The 12 nations will be drawn into three separate, seeded finals, where the sides will play a single elimination, semifinal and final. The winners of each play-off class will book the last three European tickets to Qatar.
The draw will take place on November 26, but what is certain is that Sweden will have to play its first elimination match without its legendary striker.
More football coverage: