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Speaking to reporters at LA Galaxy's training
facility in Los Angeles, the 36-year-old, who retired from
international football after Euro 2016, said the stakes are
getting higher in the knockout stages.
"Now it's not just about how good you are. Now there are a lot
of emotions in the picture, because it's about quarter-finals.
The team that can handle their feelings best will have an
advantage," he said.
"Yes, I think Sweden can become world champion, just like I said
before the World Cup started. They beat Mexico, which was
strong, and then they defeated Switzerland as well. So they have
had success, as nobody thought they would," he said.
Ibrahimovic scored 62 goals in 116 games for his country and a
debate raged about whether or not Janne Andersson should bring
him back into the squad for Russia, but they seem to be doing
well enough without him.
"Now it's about England on Saturday and we are all there with
our full support behind them. All the Swedes in the world are
proud of our national team and they will continue to be proud,
regardless of how it goes," Ibra said.
Ibrahimovic, who scored a spectacular bicycle kick against
England in the first game at the Friends Arena in Stockholm in
2012, also had a good-natured dig at another high-profile figure
with an LA Galaxy connection and an interest in the game.
"I'm Swedish and I believe in Sweden against England, so we'll
see what David Beckham says when I talk to him," he said.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
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