Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived in Russia this week but he’s come to the World Cup to shill for a sponsor, not to play for his native Sweden. And though that was his choice — Ibrahimovic retired from the national team following its disastrous performance in the 2016 Euros — the Galaxy forward joked that the tournament won’t be as good without him. “It’s the biggest party in football, playing in the World Cup,” he said before leaving Southern California. “All the best players are there. Zlatan is not there. Should have been there, but is not there.” Not everyone in Sweden agrees. Although his absence leaves the national team lacking in both scoring punch and personality, many say it’s better off that way. “As a team, we play as a collective, all the players together,” goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson said last spring. “With Zlatan — as a person, as a player — he’s an individualist, and the play goes around him. Instead, now, we play more the team all together.” Advertisement With Ibrahimovic, Sweden failed to advance out of group play in two World Cup tournaments, then failed to qualify for the next two. And in the last three Euros in which he played, Sweden won just two games combined. But without him, Sweden defeated Italy in a two-leg playoff last fall to earn its first World Cup berth in 12 years. “They’ll all talking like they have the collective game now,” said Ibrahimovic, who is Sweden’s all-time leading scorer with 62 goals in 116 games. “When you do something amazing, that is when you win the World Cup. And that is what I’m about. “I know how to win. Trust me. This is Swedish media mentality. Because I don’t have a typical Swedish name, I don’t have a typical Swedish attitude behavior and that. I won what I won. The facts speak for themselves.” Sweden will open its World Cup next week against South Korea. It also will meet Mexico and defending champion Germany in the group stage. Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks on during a Major League Soccer match with the Galaxy against Atlanta on April 21. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images ) Salah update Mohamed Salah’s status for Egypt’s World Cup opener with Uruguay on Friday remains uncertain because of a shoulder injury sustained in last month’s European Champions. Advertisement Salah reportedly attended the team’s training session Monday but did not participate fully. “He has daily treatment sessions on his shoulder. He trains indoors as well in the gym,” Egypt’s managing director Ehab Lehita told Sky Sports. “He is gradually getting better. However, I cannot confirm today that he will play in the first match. All I can say is that we hope he will play in this match.” Egypt is participating in its first World Cup in 28 years, but without Salah, who broke the English Premier League scoring record with 32 goals for Liverpool this season, it will face an uphill climb to advance beyond the group stage. Advertisement kevin.baxter@latimes.com @kbaxter11<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not deliver Sweden's pre-match team talk before their opening game against South Korea on Monday. The former Manchester United striker will be at the game in Nizhny Novgorod. But Sweden boss Janne Andersson said the iconic forward will not be involved with the squad. “I became head coach almost exactly two years ago, after Euro 2016,” he said. “Zlatan , at that point, together with a number of other players, chose to announce they were leaving the national team. (Image: AFP) (Image: AFP) “I respected that and that was the end point in his extraordinary career for Sweden. “He hasn't had any involvement with the team whatsoever since. “Whether he has friends and would meet up with someone at any stage, I don't know. “But there's no link between him and the team, nor with any of the other players who have left. This is our group now.”<doc-sep>The former striker is eager to see the debate regarding whether or not the veteran frontman should be at the 2018 World Cup brought to a close Henrik Larsson is tired of the discussion regarding Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s absence from Sweden’s World Cup squad, and believes it's possible that the decision to overlook him will prove beneficial. During a lengthy build-up to this summer’s global showpiece in Russia, Ibrahimovic hinted at regular intervals that he was prepared to step out of international retirement and help his country. Ultimately, though, a 36-year-old now plying his trade in MLS with LA Galaxy has been left watching on from afar, with all parties coming to the conclusion that now is not the right time for a recall. Larsson is fully supportive of that decision, with the Sweden squad now free of distractions without Ibrahimovic and able to focus on bringing the best out of those at their disposal. The former Celtic frontman told Betfair: “He is the best player we ever had from Sweden so it is not strange that those questions [about a recall] came up. But I think it is good now for the group that they can focus on the team and the squad.” Larsson added on the endless debate surrounding a legendary figure with 116 caps to his name: “You guys are still talking about him even though he is not there. “A fit Zlatan, the way he was before his injury, I think any coach in the world would bring him. But he is not that. There is no point talking about that. It is about the players who are there. “The team is going to be different in the sense that everybody has to move. The opponent knew in the past that when the ball went up front it was going to him. Now they are not sure. “Is it coming short into the feet of either Ola Toivonen and Marcus Berg, who are going to be the two strikers, or are they going long?” While Ibrahimovic will not be involved at the 2018 World Cup, Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof will be. The 23-year-old endured a testing debut campaign at Old Trafford in 2017-18 as he struggled for regular starts, but ex-Red Devils loanee Larsson believes he will be a better player for that experience and those to come in Russia. He added: “I would not say he has been struggling. “Obviously there have been some games that have not been the best but he has not been playing much either. Article continues below “You have to give the boy a little bit more time. He is a very good central defender. The way he reads the game, the way he passes the ball and the speed he has. “Then it is just a question of getting used to the physicality you have in the Premier League. Next season, he is a clever player, so he is going to adapt. “He has not been playing week in, week out and you need to do that to get the self-belief.”<doc-sep>
Henrik Larsson is hoping Sweden will go into the World Cup under the radar given Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be involved in Russia. Ibrahimovic retired from international football after Euro 2016 but Sweden's record goalscorer appeared to be tempted to return after qualification for this summer's finals had been achieved. Now at LA Galaxy, the 36-year-old will not add to his 116 international appearances in Russia after speculation over a recall failed to materialise. Larsson believes Ibrahimovic's absence could help the Swedes provide a few shocks when their Group F fixtures start with a clash against South Korea next Monday. Asked if not having the former Manchester United forward in the squad alleviates pressure on the rest of the squad, Larsson said: "I hope now there are a few teams who underestimate Sweden. "The South Korea game is not going to be easy and it is important they do not lose because they have a tough game against Germany after that. Then I think it is going to be decided in the Mexico game. Image: Sweden will travel to Russia without Ibrahimovic "He is the best player we ever had from Sweden so it is not strange that those questions (about a recall) came up. But I think it is good now for the group that they can focus on the team and the squad." Ibrahimovic suffered a serious knee injury towards the end of the 2016/17 season and, despite signing a new deal at Old Trafford, never won his place back in Jose Mourinho's side. He has since moved to Major League Soccer and scored twice as the Galaxy beat Real Salt Lake over the weekend - but even a move across the pond did not stop a clamour for Ibrahimovic to be involved at the World Cup. "You guys are still talking about him even though he is not there," said Larsson. "A fit Zlatan, the way he was before his injury, I think any coach in the world would bring him. But he is not that. There is no point talking about that. It is about the players who are there. "The team is going to be different in the sense that everybody has to move. The opponent knew in the past that when the ball went up front it was going to him. Now they are not sure. "Is it coming short into the feet of either Ola Toivonen and Marcus Berg, who are going to be the two strikers, or are they going long?" One player who did make Sweden's 23-man squad is Ibrahimovic's former United team-mate Victor Lindelof. The 23-year-old joined from Benfica last summer but had an inconsistent first season in England. Image: Victor Lindelof made 17 Premier League appearances last season However, he has been backed by Larsson - who had a short loan spell at Old Trafford in 2007 - to prove he is good enough to cut it in the Premier League. "I would not say he has been struggling. "Obviously there have been some games that have not been the best but he has not been playing much either. "You have to give the boy a little bit more time. He is a very good central defender. The way he reads the game, the way he passes the ball and the speed he has. "Then it is just a question of getting used to the physicality you have in the Premier League. Next season, he is a clever player, so he is going to adapt. "He has not been playing week in, week out and you need to do that to get the self-belief."