(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Zlatan Ibrahimovic said on Tuesday that he will retire from international football after the European Championship. The 34-year-old striker said ahead of Sweden''s final Group E game on Wednesday against Belgium that it would be his last for his country if the team gets eliminated.
"The last game for Sweden in Euro will be my last game with Sweden, so I hope it will not be tomorrow," he said. "Let''s hope it goes as long as possible." Even if Sweden lose and fail to qualify for the knockout stages, Ibrahimovic said he would not be disappointed with such an end to his international career. "To finish on a disappointment, never, because I''m very proud to be captain of Sweden and what I achieved. So I want to take this moment and thank all the supporters, because they make it possible for me to achieve what I have achieved," he said. "For me disappointment doesn''t exist, only proudness and grateful and very thankful." He added that he "will not participate in the Olympics" in Rio de Janeiro. He had been named in a provisional Swedish squad. Ibrahimovic is Sweden''s record scorer with 62 goals and can become their joint sixth most-capped player with 116 appearances on Wednesday. Sweden, who have yet to score in the tournament, are likely to need a win against Belgium to qualify for the last 16 after an opening draw with Ireland and a defeat to Italy. "Our greatest star going is a big loss," Sweden coach Erik Hamren said. "We have one international player that''s really at the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and that''s Zlatan Ibrahimovic." Hamren added that Ibrahimovic had discussed retirement with him in "January or February" but that Ibrahimovic only confirmed it on Tuesday. "I think Sweden do have a bright future in football, but of course if we lose Zlatan Ibrahimovic that will be a huge loss," Hamren said. "As a goalscorer of course but also as an individual he has really helped Swedish football."
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