Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Sweden's marauding giant

Sweden's striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Top) scores a goal against Italy, 18 June 2004, during their European Nations football championship match at the Dragao stadium in Porto. Italy and Sweden are competing in Group C with Bulgaria and Denmark.

A deft flick from the outside of his boot earned Sweden a late draw against Italy at Euro 2004 and sealed Fabio Capello's decision to prise its scorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, away from Ajax in a 20 million euros deal to Juventus.

Despite competition at Juve from David Trezeguet, Alesandro del Piero and Marcelo Zalayeta the giant Swede scored 16 league goals in his first season, picked up a Serie A title, and has become one of Capello's starting 11.

Juventus' Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) evades Real Madrid's Danish Thomas Gravesen (L) and Ivan Helguera, during their Champions League 2nd leg football match at Delle Alpi stadium in Turin, 09 March 2005. AFP PHOTO/ Patrick HERTZOG

Ibrahimovic marauds all across the forward line with his deft control, powerful physical presence and has an ability to outrun the majority of defenders. He is also an accurate passer though usually shoots himself at the slightest whiff of a goal.

At the Euro 2004, where Ibrahimovic teamed up so well with veteran Henrik Larsson, the former Ajax man also scored a goal in the 5-0 rout of Bulgaria, but missed a penalty in the shoot-out defeat to Holland after a 0-0 quarter-final stalemate.

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic fails to score a penalty kick in front of Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar, 26 June 2004 at the Algarve stadium in Faro, at the end of the Euro 2004 quarter final match between Sweden and The Netherlands at the European Nations championships in Portugal. The Netherlands won by 5 penalties to 4 during the penalty time. AFP PHOTO Mladen ANTONOV

Many a young striker would have crumbled after such a miss, but Ibrahimovic, fresh from warm congratulations by Juventus 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon for the quality of the afore mentioned strike, has gained in stature.

Ibrakimovic and his international team-mate Freddy Ljungberg both managed seven goals in qualifying, and will doubtless remain the main danger out in Germany.

Number 9

He grew up in the rough and tumble suburb of Rosengord, Malmo, where he was born from Bosnian roots in October 1981.

He began to play for local side FK Balkan before Malmo FF signed him at 14.

Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic pictured during the international friendly football match against Portugal at Coimbra Stadium, central Portugal, 28 April 2004. AFP Photo / Miguel RIOPA

The honour of slipping on the celebrated number nine shirt at Ajax Amsterdam, formerly graced by such greats as Marco Van Basten and Patrick Kluivert, is one that would weigh heavily on many a striker's shoulders.

But Ibrahimovic responded brilliantly to the pressure of that heritage at the tender age of 20, bagging 32 goals in the 75 league games he played with them.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback was swift on the uptake and gave him his international debut in January 2001 against the Faroe Islands, played him as a sub twice at the 2002 World Cup and by the time Euro 2004 came around were relying on him in the starting line-up.

Martin Laursen (L) of AC Milan runs to the ball followed by AFC Ajax's Zlatan Ibrahimovic during their Champions League Group H match at Meazza stadium in Milan 16 September 2003. AFP PHOTO/Vincenzo PINTO

He had first shot to international notice with five goals in Ajax's Champions League 2002-2003 campaign, where a youthful and multi-talented side missed a semi-final spot by a whisker.

He was eventually one of the stars at Euro 2004 with a sparkling tournament, the highlight of which was that sublime flicked goal that almost defied belief and eventually earned Sweden a quarter-final date.