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Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, back, reacts after Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his side's first goal during the World Cup qualifying playoff second leg. Frank Augstein/AP/Press Association Images
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A World Cup without me is not worth watching, says Ibrahimovic

“It was probably my last attempt to reach the World Cup with the national team,” said the 32-year-old.

SWEDEN STRIKER Zlatan Ibrahimovic has suggested next year’s FIFA World Cup will not be worth watching due to his absence.

Ibrahimovic scored twice in the second leg of his country’s qualification play-off with Portugal on Tuesday, but a hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo ended Sweden’s hopes of reaching the final in Brazil.

While Ibrahimovic acknowledged Portugal were the better team over two legs, he feels his absence from the global showpiece will be keenly felt.

“It was probably (my) last attempt to reach the World Cup with the national team,” said the 32-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward.

“One thing is for sure, a World Cup without me is nothing to watch. Congratulations to Portugal, but both teams deserved to get to the World Cup.

“Of course I’m disappointed. I wanted to play the World Cup. We did our best. Unfortunately, we played against a better team, better than us no doubt.”

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