Sweden's Majstorovic likely to miss EURO
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
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Zlatan Ibrahimović summed up the mood in the Sweden camp when addressing the "awful news" that Daniel Majstorovic had suffered a serious knee injury in training in Zagreb.
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Sweden centre-back Daniel Majstorovic is expected to miss UEFA EURO 2012 after suffering a serious knee injury at the end of today's training session in Zagreb.
Speaking at a post-training press conference ahead of tomorrow's friendly against Croatia, Sweden coach Erik Hamrén explained what had happened to the 34-year-old Celtic FC defender: "There was a minute left to play. Anders Svensson fell in a tussle with Zlatan [Ibrahimović], and at the same time Daniel went for the ball with his leg outstretched. Anders fell on Daniel's leg. I didn't think it was so serious because Daniel didn't say a word, but apparently it was."
Scans confirmed that Majstorovic, who played in nine of Sweden's ten EURO qualifiers, had torn knee ligaments. "It's painful for all of us, but most of all for Daniel," added Hamrén, a sentiment echoed by Ibrahimović who told UEFA.com: "It's awful news for Daniel. He's had enough injury problems already this season."
A Celtic statement said: "Daniel will stay in Sweden for the immediate future and will have an operation there soon. Celtic's medical team will be in close liaison with the [Sweden] medical team to ensure Daniel receives the best care. Unfortunately he will be out long term."
Majstorovic recently returned from a fractured cheekbone which kept him out for eight weeks.