Ibrahimovic to retire from international football after Euro 2016

Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic confirmed here Tuesday at a pre-match press conference that he' ll retire from international football after Euro 2016.

It means his national side' s final Group E encounter against Belgium Wednesday in Nice could be the Paris Saint-Germain star' s last cap with the Nordic side, who must win over the top-ranked European team to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the last 16.

"The last game at the Euros will be my last game for Sweden, so I hope it won't be tomorrow," said the 34-year-old.

"I won't participate in the Olympics, because my last game will be the last game Sweden does in this Euro. So let's hope it goes as long as possible. To finish in a disappointment: never!" added Ibra, who' d been expected to be an over-age player in Rio Olympic Games.

"I'm very proud to be the captain of Sweden and of what I have achieved. I want to take this moment and thank all the supporters because they made it possible for me to achieve what I have achieved. Without them it wouldn't have been possible.

"Wherever I go, I will always bring the Swedish flag with me and stand with it. For me disappointment doesn't exist. Only proudness and grateful and very thankful. So thank you," said the striker, whose contract with the French champions PSG expires by the end of this month.

Ibrahimovic, who has scored 62 goals in 115 appearances since making his debut in 2001 for Sweden, had been giving routine answers about Sweden's next game when he suddenly switched to English and said he had a message to send.

Sweden have taken just one point from their opening two games with Ibrahimovic, his nation' s all-time top scorer, still seeking his first score in Euro 2016 to add to his tally of six Euro finals goals. Endit