Zlatan Ibrahimovic jokes he should be banned 'for 40 games' after elbowing Austria's David Alaba during 100th cap for Sweden

PSG striker clearly not in the mood during the qualifier

Tom Sheen
Tuesday 09 September 2014 14:35 BST
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic won his hundredth cap for Sweden during the Euro 2016 qualifier in Austria - but the PSG striker was clearly not in a celebratory mood.

The talismanic striker captained his country but was involved in a couple of unsavoury incidents during the 1-1 draw in Vienna.

During the first-half of the game Ibrahimovic was slightly fortunate not to be sent off after he caught Bayern Munich's David Alaba in the face with an elbow. Alaba was furious but the striker escaped punishment from the referee.

Clearly wound up, Ibrahimovic was booked just two minutes later after a reckless lunge on Martin Harnik.

But speaking after the game, the 6ft 4in Swede said it was an accidental collision caused by the height difference between the two players.

Clearly wound up, Ibrahimovic was booked two minutes later

"He [Alaba] goes into me twice and the third time I try to shield the ball and he is 1.5m or 1.6m tall and then it's clear that he's struck by my elbow," Ibrahimovic told reporters after the match; Alaba actually stands at around 5ft 10in (1.8m).

"But the referee blew for a free-kick so of course he has got the situation under control.

"But if not, I should get a 40-match ban!"

Alaba fired Austria into the lead from the penalty spot just seven minutes into the match at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, the penalty given after Sebastian Larsson handled. But the home side's lead lasted just five minutes when Erkan Zengin scored a spectacular goal to equalise.

Austria were the better side for much of the game but unable to convert any of the chances they created.

Ibrahimovic, just a week after breaking the all-time goalscoring record for Sweden, was strangely subdued throughout, providing poor delivery from set-pieces throughout the 90 minutes.

An image of Ibrahimovic went viral during the game with the striker clearly unimpressed at the tight marking from Rubin Okotie.

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