http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/WorldCup/News/2006/06/17/1638225-ap.htmlIbrahimovic likely to miss England match because of groin injury
By STEPHAN NASSTROM
Sat, June 17, 2006
BREMEN, Germany (AP) - Barring an unlikely recovery, striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss Sweden's last Group B match against England, team doctor Magnus Forssblad said Saturday.
"Our goal is to have him fit for the next match, he will probably not play against England," Forssblad said.
Sweden needs at least a draw against England in Cologne on Tuesday to ensure it advances to the second round.
"We did an MRI (scan) yesterday because he has some pain in his left groin," Forssblad said. "The MRI revealed a small partial muscle rupture in one of the small muscles in the groin. But he feels much better today.
"We decided to do rehab training today and tomorrow and on Tuesday we will see if we can increase training for him."
Ibrahimovic was injured during warmup before Sweden's 1-0 win Thursday over Paraguay in Berlin. The Juventus striker left the pitch at half time and was replaced by Marcus Allback, who set up Fredrik Ljungberg's game-winner in the 89th minute.
Ibrahimovic had groin problems for several spells during his last season with Ajax and was finally operated on in January 2004. He came back in March that year. But his groin problems continued that spring and he complained about it after a friendly against Portugal in late April.
Ibrahimovic had groin problems for several spells during his last season with Ajax and was finally operated in January 2004. But has had had ongoing problems since then.
The Swedes have not lost to England since 1968, although there's less pressure on the English in next Tuesday's match because they've already qualified for the second round .
Sweden coach Lars Lagerback has not revealed his starting 11 for the England match. But it's likely that Allback will be a starter up front alongside veteran Henrik Larsson.
"You always want all players on the squad to be fit," Lagerback said. "Zlatan has been a very important player for us, but that's how it is in football. You just have to accept that if you can't play, you can't play. We have other players."
The 24-year-Ibrahimovic had a disappointing first half against Paraguay, looking slow and often mistiming the ball.
He now has played 308 minutes without scoring a goal for the national team.
His goalscoring drought in international soccer comes after he scored only seven goals in his second season for Juventus - less than half his haul in his rookie season in Italy's Serie A.
"Of course we don't have another player kike Zlatan," Lagerback said. "He has his own style and qualities. But I think we have good players on the squad who can replace him if necessary. Now we only have 22 players, but it's enough for a starting 11.
While Ibrahimovic headed to the swimming pool for rehab, the other players on the squad had the day off. The squad will have a closed training session on Sunday before departing for Cologne on Tuesday.
