Time to face facts: There will be one truly world class player on the field tomorrow and he will not be wearing the green of the Republic of Ireland.
He may be 34, and currently without a club, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains a phenomenal talent – with individual gifts far beyond anyone else who will line out here in Paris on Monday evening.
Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Internazionale, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG and Manchester United, the powerful, brash striker has had one hell of a career. While he has never won a Champions League, he has won league titles everywhere he has played after Malmo.
After months and month of inaction Martin O'Neill and FAI agree deal at worst possible time https://t.co/qtkDbwgo1I
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 7, 2016
Managers across the globe, including Jose Mourinho, are mad keen to acquire his services but there was a time when Martin O’Neill, at least, thought very little of the Swedish force of nature.
“The most over-rated player on the planet,” was how the Republic of Ireland manager described Ibrahimovic during the 2006 World Cup when he was employed by the BBC as a pundit.
Bear in mind Ibrahimovic had scored 23 goals in 70 Serie A matches as Juventus won back to back Scudetti (later to be stripped) and was on his way to Inter, where he would win three successive league titles.
In today’s Sunday Times, O’Neill was reminded of his comments as he prepares his Republic of Ireland team for their Group E opener at Stade de France.
“That was 2006, wasn’t it? That is how many tears, a decade in which someone is likely to improve?”
It was a couple of Swedish Celts who convinced the former Bhoys manager of the quality of Ibrahimovic.
“I was put right when I spoke to Johan Mjallby and Henrik Larsson, who told me he was a very fine player and I’m prepared to believe them.”
If O’Neill does not sound wholly convinced by Zlatan, let us hope the former PSG striker does not provide the Ireland boss with any first hand evidence on Monday.
