Football: Ibra in doubt for Brazil friendly

Sweden captain has a bruised foot.

STOCKHOLM: Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic is doubtful for the international friendly against Brazil because of a bruised foot, according to the Swedish Football Federation. The Paris Saint Germain striker, who joined the French side in a mega-money deal from AC Milan, ‘received a kick in the right foot’ during Saturday’s Ligue 1 opener against Lorient. Sweden coach Erik Hamren has called up Gothenburg striker Tobias Hysen as a possible replacement. Meanwhile, Pele and other members of Brazil’s 1958 World Cup-winning team are being invited to Stockholm to commemorate their victory against the hosts. The match today will be the last to be staged at the venue before it is demolished, to be replaced by a new 50,000-seat stadium nearby. The Rasunda Stadium was the centrepiece of the 1958 World Cup finals, and hosted the final, which Brazil won 5-2 against the hosts.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2012.