Zlatan Ibrahimović will miss the upcoming European Championship because of a knee injury, the Swedish soccer federation said Saturday.
Ibrahimović limped out of AC Milan’s 3-0 win at Juventus last weekend and the Sweden forward had further tests on his injured left knee on Saturday.
Milan released a statement saying that Ibrahimović will undergo “a conservative treatment of six weeks” and the Swedish soccer federation announced shortly afterward that the 39-year-old had told the national coach that he would not be fit in time for the tournament.
Ibrahimović came out of international retirement in March, five years after his last match for his country. He produced three assists in his first two starts upon his return, in wins over Georgia and Kosovo in World Cup qualifying.
Euro 2020, which was postponed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, kicks off on June 11, said an AP report.
Sweden’s first match is against Spain on June 14. It also plays Poland and Slovakia in Group E.
Andersson confirmed that Ibrahimović had informed him earlier Saturday.
“Of course, it feels sad, especially for Zlatan but also for us,” Andersson said in a statement. “I hope he is back on the field again as soon as possible.”
