PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Thomas Ravelli would make his first appearance as a TV pundit.
Then he was not afraid to share his honest opinions about world star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
– Then you have to be honest, Ravelli said to Expressen.
The former soccer player and later the expert commentator Ralph Edstrom commented Sweden-Hungary once upon a time. Then he didn’t hold back when he criticized Sweden’s big star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Zlatan’s sawing
Among other things, Edström believed that “Ibra” had not fought properly and was close to getting a red card in what, according to the expert, was a failed effort. In response to the speech, Ibrahimovic expressed this now famous quote to Sportbladet:
– He can work in my garden. That’s his level.
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Despite their disagreements during Ibrahimovic’s career, Edström paid tribute to him when he put his boots on the shelf.
– It’s a fantastic career. Absolutely incomparable. He was a bit puppyish at first and I was a bit critical of him when I was working on the radio, but that was because I didn’t think his body language towards his teammates was okay. But then he grew into himself. He has had success in all the clubs he has been to and is the greatest footballer we have ever had in Sweden. He is by far the best, he told Expressen.
READ MORE: Börje Salming’s unforgettable words about Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their well-known quarrel really say everything about “Ibra”
Ravelli’s pass
When a few years after Edström’s sawing, it was time for the European Championship Thomas Ravelli make his first appearance as a TV expert for Expressen. Then he was asked if he was nervous about criticizing Ibrahimovic.
– No, but it depends on how the match turns out and what effort he makes. I think it can be seen that he is at ease on the field and radiates a completely different calmness now, and it is of course contagious to the rest of the team, Ravelli explained to Expressen.
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The 1994 World Cup hero continues his reasoning, with a familiar reference.
– But if you have a bad match, then you have to be honest and write what you think about the match. Then the question is whether it will be like with Ralf Edström who had to work in his garden, I might have to wash his cars, you never know, said Ravelli jokingly.
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