Ronaldo vs. Ibrahimovic: What Portugal’s Win Means for the Pair of Them

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at Internationaled.org

Published: November 20, 2013

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Wednesday’s front pages revealed both the ecstasy and despair of Portugal’s 4-2 aggregate win over Sweden in World Cup qualifying.



"Ronaldo the Largest!" shouted A Bola, no doubt revelling in a performance that saw the Portugal captain outplay Sweden skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

A few lines down: "Ronaldo the Best in the World."

Stockholm’s Dagens Nyheter, by comparison, avoided the one-versus-one narrative that had so fascinated the football world in the build-up to the tie, opting instead for a more team-focused approach.

"See You Another Time, Brazil" was their modest, even downplayed, take on the result. Although an image of Ibrahimovic—ball at his feet, staring dejectedly at the ground—perhaps did more to capture the mood of the occasion.



Ronaldo, by virtue of his four-goal showing over the two legs, is off to the 2014 World Cup. Ibrahimovic, despite scoring twice, will miss out. No other player found the back of the net in the more than 180 minutes of high-octane action; as a result, the focus on the two superstars is inevitable.

But what does it mean for the pair of them?

For Ibrahimovic, this was quite likely his last crack at the can as far as world football’s signature event is concerned.

The Paris Saint-German striker will be 36 years old by the time the 2018 finals kick off in Russia and as he told his fans on his personal app, Zlatan Unplugged, the 2014 event likely represented his "last attempt to reach the World Cup." (Daily Mail)



Even national team icon Henrik Larsson, who helped Sweden to a third-place finish at USA ’94, played in his third and final World Cup at 34 years of age, although with manager Erik Hamren’s side seemingly short of both options and prospects up front, it follows that Ibrahimovic will have a place in the squad for as long as he wan...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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