Ibrahimovic gets acupuncture to treat swollen knee
Last Updated: Sunday, June 15, 2008 | 1:55 PM ET
CBC Sports
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, foreground, has two goals for Sweden at Euro 2008. (Frank Augstein/Associated Press)Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is receiving acupuncture and ultrasound treatment on his swollen knee in order to be ready to play in Sweden's crucial Euro 2008 match against Russia on Wednesday
"We are giving him a series of different treatments," Swedish team physician Magnus Forssblad told reporters on Sunday. "We are aiming for him to be ready to play on Wednesday. We'll have to take it day by day, but we think it looks positive."
Ibrahimovic was substituted at halftime in Sweden's 2-1 loss to Spain on Saturday after feeling pain in his knee.
Ibrahimovic has been bothered by the injury since the start of the European Championship and Sweden is keen to have the forward, who has two goals in this tournament, ready for Wednesday's contest. Sweden needs to earn a draw or a victory against the Russians in order to earn a berth in the quarter-finals.
Forssblad stressed that Ibrahimovic simply aggravated the old knee injury, instead of suffering a new one.
"It's not a new injury," Forssblad said. "It's the problem surrounding his kneecap tendon. He's been feeling pain in different parts during this time. For a while he had more pain in the lubricating sac right above the knee cap. Now he has more pain on the side.
"It's the same injury, but different symptoms."
Swedish coach Lars Lagerback said he hopes to have Ibrahimovic back in the lineup for the Russia game, but has other options if the tall, lanky striker can't play
"We'll see how he feels during these days and we can only hope that he is available for the Russia match," Lagerback said.
"Then we'll have to take that match step-by-step. If he gets another reaction we'll have to make a judgment on whether he can continue playing with pain or not."
