Does Zlatan have too much power?

Before Sweden faced Denmark in a play-off to reach the European Championships, there was mounting speculation that their captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic would retire from international football if his team did not make the finals.

As it happened, Ibrahimovic scored twice in a 2-2 draw, the second a swerving free-kick that Kasper Schmeichel could do nothing about, that sealed their place in France and then said: “They said they were going to send me to retirement. I sent their whole nation into retirement.”

It was typical Ibrahimovic; his goal was a moment of individual brilliance, and his response was funny and egotistical.