Ibrahimovic waits on groin injury check-up

BERLIN, June 16: Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he was taken off at halftime against Paraguay because of a groin strain and will need a check-up with the team doctor to find out how serious the injury is.

''I stretched it a little bit during the warm-up and then it got worse and worse so I had to stop,'' the 24-year-old told reporters after Sweden's last-minute Group B victory over the South Americans at the Olympiastadion yesterday.

The tall Juventus striker did not appear to be hampered during the first half, linking well with strike partner Henrik Larsson and creating problems for the Paraguay defenders.

Asked whether he would be a doubt to face England on Tuesday in Cologne in a match to decide who tops the group, Ibrahimovic said: ''I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says.'' Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said the squad's medical staff had advised taking the player off against Paraguay, warning that if he continued he might risk missing the whole tournament.

''I really don't know how badly injured he is. We have to wait one or two days to see how serious it is,'' Lagerback said at a news conference.

REUTERS