Ibrahimovic, Mellberg included in Sweden squad

By foxsports
Published

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Olof Mellberg were both called up for Sweden's decisive European Championship qualifiers after recovering from injuries.

Sweden coach Erik Hamren says Ibrahimovic is expected to test his fitness when AC Milan plays Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Wednesday. The striker hasn't played since Sept. 9 because of an ankle problem.

Hamren says that even though Ibrahimovic ''isn't 100 percent yet he means a lot for the team.''

Mellberg missed Sweden's last two qualifiers against San Marino and Hungary because of a knee injury.

Sweden is second in Group A behind the Netherlands and plays Finland in Helsinki on Oct. 7 before hosting the Dutch in Stockholm on Oct. 11.

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven), Johan Wiland (FC Copenhagen).

Defenders: Andreas Granqvist (Genoa), Mikael Lustig (Rosenborg), Daniel Majstorovic (Celtic), Olof Mellberg (Olympiakos), Jonas Olsson (West Bromwich Albion), Martin Olsson (Blackburn), Pierre Bengtsson (FC Copenhagen).

Midfielders: Emir Bajrami (Twente), Rasmus Elm (AZ Alkmaar), Tobias Hysen (IFK Goteborg), Kim Kallstrom (Lyon), Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland), Anders Svensson (Elfsborg), Ola Toivonen (PSV Eindhoven), Pontus Wernbloom (AZ Alkmaar), Christian Wilhelmsson (Al Hilal), Samuel Holmen (Istanbul).

Forwards: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan), Johan Elmander (Galatasaray), Alexander Gerndt (Utrecht).