Belgium vs. Sweden Euro 2024 Qualifier Abandoned After Shooting in Brussels
Oct 16, 2023
BRUSSELS - Sweden fans during the European Championship qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium on October 16, 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. ANP | Hollandse Hoogte | GERRIT VAN COLOGNE (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
Players on the Swedish men's national team reportedly refused to resume a Euro 2024 qualifying match against Belgium after halftime—a decision supported by the Belgian national team—after two people who were wearing football shirts and presumed to be Swedish were shot and killed in central Brussels before the game, per Tom Blow of the Mirror.
Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided, after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned. Further communication will be made in…
Arrangements to safely escort supporters from the Belgium-Sweden match out of the stadium are being examined. Supporters will be given more information at the stadium. Please follow the instructions of the emergency services.
The suspect in the shooting remains at large, per Belgian public broadcaster VRT (h/t CNN's Catherine Nicholls).
Prosecutors are treating the shooting as an act of terrorism, per the BBC, and Brussels' terror threat has been increased to its highest level.
Per the BBC's report, "A video posted on social media of an Arabic-speaking man claimed he carried out the attack in the name of God," with the man saying in the video that he has killed three people. Authorities are reportedly working to verify the video.
Reuters reported that the alleged killer said on the video posted to social media that he represented the Islamic State.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo posted the following statement on social media:
My deepest condolences to the relatives of this cowardly attack in Brussels.
I am closely following the situation, together with the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs from @CrisiscenterBE
We are monitoring the situation and ask the people of Brussels to be vigilant.
The prime minister confirmed that the two known victims were Swedish soccer supporters, per the BBC.
The score in the matchup between Sweden and Belgium was even at a goal apiece when the match was abandoned, with goals from Sweden's Viktor Gyökeres and Belgium's Romelu Lukaku.
Fire Alarm Forces Sweden to Evacuate Hotel Ahead of England World Cup Clash
Jul 7, 2018
Sweden players celebrate after teammate Emil Forsberg scored their side's first goal during the round of 16 match between Switzerland and Sweden at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg Stadium, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, July 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Sweden's preparations for their 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter-final with England were disrupted on Saturday morning as a false fire alarm prompted an evacuation of the team hotel and surrounding buildings.
"According to the hotel management, they believe the alarm went off due to either someone smoking in their room or someone accidentally hitting a fire alarm switch," Sky Sports reported. "All the players are now back in their rooms and will look to progress with their plans ahead of the match."
According to Jeremy Armstrong of the Daily Mirror, the incident took place in the early hours of the morning at the Lotte Hotel in Samara, Russia. The Sweden players are then said to have gathered in the lobby before it was deemed safe to return to their beds.
England fan Terry Comitti, who was staying at the same facility, said the Swedes were unsurprisingly unhappy about being disturbed.
"The Swedish players looked like they had the right hump," he said, per Armstrong. "They were not happy and that wouldn’t be a surprise when they were supposed to be getting their beauty sleep before what is probably the biggest games of their lives."
SAMARA, RUSSIA - JULY 06: Gareth Southgate, Manager of England and Harry Kane of England speak during an England press conference at Samara Arena on July 6, 2018 in Samara, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Sweden have shocked plenty by making it this far at the World Cup. Having qualified from a group that contained South Korea, Mexico and defending champions Germany, they then got the better of Switzerland in the last 16 to progress to the quarter-final.
They'll be coming up against a confident England side in Samara. The Three Lions beat Colombia via a penalty shootout in the first knockout round, and in Harry Kane, they have the tournament's top scorer leading the line—the captain has fired home six goals in three games so far.
Sweden's Andreas Granqvist Welcomes New Child Day Before England World Cup Clash
Jul 6, 2018
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 03: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden celebrates at the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between Sweden and Switzerland at Saint Petersburg Stadium on July 3, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist and his wife, Sofie, have announced the birth of their second daughter, just one day before the defender is set to lead his side in their 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against England.
Granqvist chose to heed his wife's words and remain at the World Cup in Russia rather than fly home for the birth of their second child, Mika, whose safe arrival was confirmed by Mrs. Granqvist on Friday:
Sofie gave birth in Granqvist's home city of Helsinborg, where the centre-back will return this summer after five years in Russia with Krasnodar, having last represented them in 2008.
Granqvist also took to Instagram to celebrate the arrival of another daughter:
MailOnline's Siofra Brennan provided updates on the latest Granqvist child and sourced quotes that the player's father, Tommy, gave to Sportbladet: "Everything has gone well. I'm [a] proud grandfather."
The 33-year-old will undoubtedly look to the new addition to his family as inspiration for Saturday's meeting with the Three Lions at the Samara Arena.
Sweden can advance to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since they finished third in the 1994 tournament, while England haven't featured in the last four since placing fourth in 1990.
Granqvist previously spoke to the media regarding his wife's urge for him to remain in Russia at the tournament, with this competition to be the veteran's last opportunity at international glory, via the Guardian:
#Swe's Andreas Granqvist on his wife being due to give birth any day now: 'She doesn't want me to come home, she wants me to be here and play football' #WorldCuppic.twitter.com/eqH71iYTIU
Janne Andersson's men have been a surprise package in Russia and advanced as Group F winners ahead of Mexico, with Germany failing to qualify for the round of 16 despite beating the Swedes.
Granqvist has scored two goals (both penalties) and been a leading presence as they've conceded only twice in four outings—both against Germany—and now has extra motivation for a crunch quarter-final clash with England.
Andreas Granqvist Ready to Miss Birth of Child for England World Cup Clash
Jul 5, 2018
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 3: Andreas Granqvist (C) of Sweden national team celebrates victory during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between Sweden and Switzerland at Saint Petersburg Stadium on July 3, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist could miss the birth of his child so that he can lead his country in their quarter-final clash against England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Granqvist, 33, has been among Sweden's top performers at the tournament thus far and said any trip home for the family matter will be saved for after the meeting with England in Samara on Saturday, via the Guardian:
#Swe's Andreas Granqvist on his wife being due to give birth any day now: 'She doesn't want me to come home, she wants me to be here and play football' #WorldCuppic.twitter.com/eqH71iYTIU
Dan Kilpatrick of the London Evening Standard reported Granqvist's wife, who is pregnant with their second child, was due to give birth earlier this week.
The centre-back scored two of Sweden's five goals in the World Cup group stage and was an important figure in their 1-0 victory over Switzerland in the round of 16, their third clean sheet in four matches.
Manager Janne Andersson has taken Sweden to the competition's quarter-finals for the first time since Sweden finished third in the 1994 tournament held in the United States.
TalkSport's Tom Rennie referenced England midfielder Fabian Delph's decision to fly home from Russia in a similar circumstance, and the majority of voters in a poll said they would do the same thing:
Who is right? What would you do?
Andreas Granqvist has stayed at the World Cup despite his wife being due to give birth.
However, Delph is a fringe figure among Gareth Southgate's England squad compared to Sweden captain Granqvist, who is set to return to his first club, Helsinborg, from Krasnodar this summer.
Kilpatrick also provided quotes from the defender in giving his assessment of the Three Lions and his side's chances in Samara:
"Harry Kane is fantastic. They play more offensively now than they did before, with skilful players like [Raheem] Sterling. But they will find it difficult. We play with a very good, compact defence. We lost a lot of big names—we had to start from the beginning and play with 23 players, not one or two.
"We've worked really hard and we've shown that we really work for each other, we fight for each other and we do it as a collective. That's the strength of Sweden at the moment."
Many thought Sweden might suffer from the international retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic after Euro 2016, but Andersson has formed the nation's stars into a capable corps, of which Granqvist is a vital piece.
The decision to delay his plans to return home and possibly miss the birth of his second child means he'll put country allegiances first in the hope he has a greater tale to tell of his 2018 World Cup years down the line.
Sweden vs. South Korea: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info for World Cup 2018
Jun 17, 2018
DAEGU, South Korea - MAY 28: Son Heong-Min of South Korea celebrates after the international friendly match between South Korea and Honduras at Daegu World Cup Stadium on May 28, 2018 in Daegu, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Sweden and South Korea kick off their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaigns on Monday at Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
The match will be the second in Group F, as Mexico and Germany open proceedings on Sunday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - JUNE 09: The team from Sweden sings their national anthem ahead of the international friendly match between Sweden v Peru at the Ullevi Stadium on June 9, 2018 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Daniel Malmberg/Getty Images)
Defending champions Germany are the big favourites to win Group F, while Mexico are also expected to progress after a strong qualifying campaign.
It will be something of a surprise if either Sweden or South Korea make it to the knockout stages, but a win in their opening game would provide a big boost.
Sweden made it to the World Cup the hard way after finishing second in a tough group that also contained France and the Netherlands. They were handed a play-off tie against Italy and upset the Azzurri with a 1-0 aggregate win.
There will be no Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the Sweden team at a tournament for the first time since Euro 2000. The charismatic striker, who had hinted he might come out of international retirement, was left out of the squad.
RB Leipzig midfielder Emil Forsberg is their star man and a real threat from set pieces. Tifo Football showed what to expect from him:
Emil Forsberg is an excellent player, creative, able to pick and weight passes, change the angle of attack, & work well with quick front men to spring opposition defences.
— Tifo Football by The Athletic (@TifoFootball_) June 12, 2018
In defence, Manchester United centre-back Victor Lindelof will hope to remind the world what he is capable of after a tough first season at Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old made just 13 Premier League starts under Jose Mourinho and is behind Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in the pecking order.
South Korea also head to Russia with few expectations and have a poor record at World Cup finals beyond their fourth-placed finish as co-hosts in 2002.
The team did not win a single game at the 2014 World Cup and may repeat that record in what looks a tough group.
They will turn to Tottenham Hotspur's Heung-Min Son for inspiration after he managed 18 goals and six assists during a superb season for Mauricio Pochettino's men.
Starlet Lee Seung-woo will also be hoping to make an impression on the world stage. The 20-year-old grew up with Barcelona, joining the club at 12, but he moved to Verona in 2017 in search of regular football.
FootballTalentScout showed what to expect from the youngster:
The two players could feature together in attack against Sweden and have the potential to cause problems with their pace, penetration and finishing ability.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Will Not Play for Sweden at 2018 World Cup
Apr 26, 2018
Los Angeles Galaxy's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, of Sweden, celebrates his goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Los Angeles FC Saturday, March 31, 2018, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 4-3. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not come out of international retirement to play for Sweden at the 2018 World Cup, per an official press release that was confirmed by Sky Sports on Twitter:
"I spoke to Zlatan on Tuesday. He said he has not changed his decision regarding playing in the national team. It is still a no," said head of the Swedish Football Federation Lars Richt, per Ben Snowball for Eurosport.
Ibrahimovic's final decision had been hanging over the Swedish camp for some time, and the striker recently appeared to hint that he would be playing this summer.
He said on Jimmy Kimmel Live that "I'm going to the World Cup," and that "a World Cup without me wouldn't be a World Cup," per ESPN FC, but that would appear to have been a red herring.
It looks as though the player has decided against participating, rather than having been rejected. The press release mentions Richt talking with Ibrahimovic, which does not conform to the expected course of action regarding the 36-year-old's international future.
"He can do it," Sweden head coach Janne Andersson said, responding to the player's interview with Jimmy Kimmel, per Kicker (h/t Matt Reed for NBC). "If you want to be part of it, you must call me. Easy as that."
Instead, Ibrahimovic will be staying in Los Angeles during their brief nine-day break in the summer. The MLS will not run between June 14 and June 22, with L.A. Galaxy returning to action against San Jose Earthquakes on June 30.
Sweden went through the entire World Cup qualifying campaign without Zlatan, albeit via a play-off victory against Italy. Andersson has built a hard-working and exciting young side, but Sweden do lack a strong centre-forward.
Marcus Berg is not the player he was, and he is surely not up to international standard now that he plays in the UAE, which explains why Sweden have only scored three goals in five matches since booking their place at the 2018 World Cup.
Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, has had a mixed start in L.A. He scored twice against rivals Los Angeles FC on his debut to help turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 victory, but since then, he has scored once in three matches.
Perhaps reflecting on his fitness during his brief spell with L.A. Galaxy has led to Ibrahimovic's final decision, but either way, it seems unlikely he won't be in Russia in some capacity.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Won't Play at World Cup, Says Sweden Manager Janne Andersson
Apr 24, 2018
Zlatan Ibrahimovic of LA Galaxy looks on during the Major League Soccer match between Atlanta United and LA Galaxy in Carson, California on April 21, 2018. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
Sweden manager Janne Andersson has dismissed suggestions that Los Angeles Galaxy centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic could come out of retirement to play at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The Swedes qualified for the Russia showpiece after beating Italy over two legs, and talk quickly turned to whether Ibrahimovic, who had retired from national team duty after the UEFA European Championship in 2016, would be recalled to take part.
Speaking to TYC Sport (h/t Calciomercato.com), Andersson insisted nothing has changed regarding the 36-year-old's international prospects.
"Ibrahimovic said no to the national team," he said. "He was not going to be in the team after the European Championship, and I respected him. If you rejected the team, I do not think you should come back. I respect what he said and those who said 'yes.' [Ibrahimovic] has not called me, but he's definitely not included in the plans for the World Cup."
The former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain striker has fuelled the speculation since Sweden's qualification was confirmed.
After they beat the Azzurri over two legs following a pair of monumental defensive performances, the veteran forward posted the following:
When asked about the prospect in March, the striker said "the door isn't closed for anything," per Luke Brown of The Independent.
The Swede was then asked on Jimmy Kimmel Live whether he would be involved. "I just said I'm going to the World Cup," Ibrahimovic said. "If I say more, people will hang me, so I have to be careful what I say now."
He also posted the following tweet, insisting the chances of featuring in the tournament are "sky high":
The chance of me playing in the World Cup is skyhöga #FifaWorldCup2018
While Ibrahimovic is one of the greatest Swedish players of all time, it doesn't appear as if a return to the squad would be so popular with everyone from his homeland.
TOPSHOT - Sweden's forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic acknowledges the crowd after Sweden lost 0-1 in the Euro 2016 group E football match between Sweden and Belgium at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 22, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO (Pho
According to Brown, a poll conducted by a Swedish research consultancy in November revealed 63 per cent of those surveyed would prefer to leave the veteran out of the squad. Andersson's team will take on South Korea, Mexico and defending champions Germany in the group stages of the competition.
Ibrahimovic recently moved from United to the Galaxy and made a stunning debut for his new side, netting twice in a dramatic 4-3 win against local rivals Los Angeles FC. He also grabbed the winning goal away at Chicago Fire earlier this month.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Says He Will Decide If He Plays for Sweden at the World Cup
Mar 16, 2018
Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road stadium in Watford, England, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic says it will be up to him whether he plays at the FIFA World Cup with Sweden as he gave an update on a return to action for Manchester United.
The 36-year-old ended his international career in 2016 after scoring 62 goals in 116 appearances to become the country's record goalscorer, but a return has been speculated upon since they qualified for the finals in Russia.
According to Reuters' Philip O'Connor (h/t MailOnline), Ibrahimovic said of an international comeback: "The thoughts are there the whole time, but if I want to, I'll be there."
The striker joked about attending alongside Sweden legend Henrik Larsson on Twitter:
However, Sweden boss Janne Andersson may not immediately call him back into action if he makes himself available, per Goal's Robin Bairner:
"It doesn't change anything for me. It's great that players want to join us. I don't follow what is written and rumoured very much. I respect the decision he has taken. I've not thought more about it. To me, the situation is the same. And that goes for Pontus Wernbloom as well. If they change their minds, they are very welcome to come and speak to me."
Bleacher Report's Dean Jones believes the side would be better off without him:
Two thoughts on Zlatan: 1) Sweden should not take him to the World Cup 2) LA Galaxy should be wary of him too—will upset team balance in a season where they have realistic hopes of doing well
Ibrahimovic was outstanding for Sweden, as evidenced by his goal record, but he's past his prime and without him in the side the team can become a more cohesive unit and perhaps be greater than the sum of their parts.
What's more, he has not played since December 26 after he briefly—and perhaps prematurely—came back from a serious knee injury suffered in April last year. He made seven appearances, totalling 187 minutes, before heading back to the sidelines.
Asked for a timeline of his United comeback, he said: "When I'm ready to perform. It's all about that. I want to get to the point where I can perform as I haven't been able to take part so much during the season."
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford on December 26, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Imag
There are only eight matches remaining in the Premier League, and the FA Cup is United's only chance of silverware following Tuesday's UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Sevilla.
The Red Devils' focus in the remaining months of the season should be centred on making their often disjointed attacking efforts more cohesive, and Ibrahimovic's presence isn't likely to help in that regard given his lack of mobility.
Romelu Lukaku has been impressive lately as well, with six goals and two assists in his last eight games, so dropping him for the Swede would be a mistake.
However, should the Belgium international pick up a knock or need resting late on in a match, Ibrahimovic can still contribute if he's willing to accept a back-up role.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Considering Sweden National Team Return for 2018 World Cup
Mar 2, 2018
Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, center, reacts end of the Euro 2016 Group E soccer match between Sweden and Belgium at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, France, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Belgium won 1-0. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
As reported by Reuters' Philip O'Connor (h/t the Daily Mail), the 36-year-old spoke to reporters at the opening of his new paddle tennis centre in Stockholm, and he expressed a desire to return to international football:
"We'll see, it's a tough question. I want to feel that I can perform and give back. I don't want to come just because I'm somebody. The door isn't closed for anything.
"I miss the national team. When you've played in the national team for 20 years and then you're not in it anymore, and you see the others playing in the national team, it's tough.
"It's tough in general, when you think that I'm injured and not playing. I want to play, with the club team, with the national team, it's the same thing. They [the Swedish national team] have done a good job.''
He added he wouldn't need a telephone call, saying: "I don't think anyone needs to call. If I want to, I'm there, that's how it is. But one thing at a time. When I can do what I want to, I'll have other thoughts."
Ibrahimovic retired from international duty at the end of the Euro 2016 tournament, walking away as the nation's all-time leading scorer. The Swedes, who had failed to qualify for the past two World Cups, booked their spot for Russia 2018 via a play-off win over Italy, leading to speculation he could return.
In November, he told reporters he would stay retired if Sweden qualified and even suggested the team was better off without him, as there was less pressure to win, per the Guardian's Marcus Christenson.
Speculation continued, however, and opinion on whether he should return was split. Swedish newspaper Expressen ran a poll (in Swedish) in which 63 per cent of 1,011 people surveyed urged him not to come back. Per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones, Swedish football expert Gunnar Persson did the same:
"The team spirit has been rebuilt, and that is something the Swedish side was always famous for.
"Everybody involved seems happier, and the new manager is what you might call a 'real football man,' with lots of common sense. There is no anxiety among the players, just the will to perform well. Emil Forsberg is a particular darling, never really pleased with himself, always trying to do better."
Manchester United's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic kicks the ball during a team training session at the club's training complex near Carrington, west of Manchester in north west England on February 20, 2018, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League r
A healthy and in-form Ibrahimovic remains one of the most lethal forwards in the world―it's almost impossible to suggest Sweden would be better off without him.
His health heading towards the end of the 2017-18 campaign is a huge question mark, and what could stand in the way of an international return. The veteran hasn't seen the pitch since December, cutting his comeback from major knee surgery short, per the Manchester Evening News' Alice McKeegan.
