Strike partner: Johan Elmander looks set to start against England

Elmander was struggling before kick-off with a foot injury and Ibrahimovic has now requested that the former Bolton forward plays when Sweden meet England in Kiev on Friday.

Elmander spoke to the English media and tried to play down his captain’s outburst.

‘It’s up to him to say whatever he wants to say,’ said Elmander. ‘Of course we feel we let ourselves down because we went there to win.’

Sweden coach Erik Hamren described his players as ‘cowards’ after Monday’s setback and didn’t back down at his press conference.

‘We weren’t good enough and the players know that,’ he said.

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