STOCKHOLM: The final whistle which signalled that Sweden had qualified for the World Cup was still echoing around the San Siro when the speculation began — will retired record goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic return for the finals in Russia?

Sweden had just secured a 1-0 aggregate victory over Italy with a squad short on big names, a team that snatched second place in European qualifying Group ‘A’ from the Dutch and beaten France at home before knocking out Italy, all without Ibrahimovic.

In the minutes after the Swedes hung on for a goalless draw on Monday that secured one of the big World Cup upsets, Ibrahimovic wrote “We are Zweden” on Instagram next to a photo of the delighted team, deliberately adding the ‘Z’ of his name to his country’s.

The Manchester United striker, who retired from the national team in 2016, was among the crowd in the San Siro to cheer on his former Sweden team-mates.

In the post-match press conference, coach Janne Andersson was irritated by reporters’ focus on whether their veteran former star could again pull on the yellow jersey at the finals in Russia next year.

“This is incredible. The player has just stopped to play one-and-a-half years ago and we are still here talking about him,” Andersson told reporters. “We need to talk about the great players we have in this team.”

The 36-year-old departed the national team after a disappointing group stage exit at Euro 2016, ending an international career that saw him score 62 goals, many of them spectacular, in 116 matches for his country.

“Zlatan is, as I expressed it, our greatest player of all time, a fantastic athlete in every way, but he has chosen not to take part,” Andersson said.

The Manchester United striker, who is currently recovering from a serious knee injury, has always been something of a divisive figure in his native country, adored for his skills but often perceived as arrogant and selfish.

After his departure and that of former manager Erik Hamren, the Swedes went back to their traditional style of being a tightly-knit collective where no individual is more important than the team — a return for Zlatan now could upset that delicate balance.

Andersson’s players were not in the mood to discuss a possible return either.

“First and foremost he must open up the possibility himself. Otherwise I don’t think one should have this discussion,” defender Ludwig Augustinsson said after the Italy game.

Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola was a lot more positive towards a comeback for his client.

“If it’s up to me, I’ll deliver him myself,” he told Sweden’s SportExpressen.

Italy totally dominated Monday’s match but Sweden earned a return to the World Cup for the first time since 2006 thanks to Jakob Johansson’s strike in the bruising first leg in Stockholm.

“I have never experienced anything like this,” said goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven was overjoyed at the against-the-odds victory.

“Jaaaaaaaa! It will be the World Cup for Sweden in 2018 after two strong matches against Italy... Congratulations to the national team!” he wrote on Facebook.

Newspaper Dagens Nyheter could hardly believe the result either, calling it “surreal”.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2017