Zlatan Ibrahimovic has admitted he is feeling the heat as he aims to help Sweden secure a passage into the knockout stages at Euro 2012.
Sweden striker says he has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has admitted he is feeling the heat as he aims to help Sweden secure a passage into the knockout stages at Euro 2012.
Head coach Erik Hamren is aiming to guide his side out of Group D and they open their campaign against co-hosts Ukraine.
Swedish skipper Ibrahimovic, who is one of the more experienced players in the camp, believes it is important that he produces his very best form.
"I feel lot of pressure," said Ibrahimovic. "Wherever I come to play, even at club level, I have that responsibility.
"I like to play under pressure; it means I have something to play for.
"It makes you go on and never makes you relaxed. I like that situation and I'm under it now."
Ideas
The AC Milan hitman insists Sweden have developed under Hamren's laid-back approach and are ready to upset the odds and make it out a group, which also contains England and France.
"We're here because we're good," said Ibrahimovic. "No team has got here by luck.
"We're doing what we're good at and the coach has been doing excellent work.
"He's put the team together in a good way and he's trying to develop us.
"We're trying to develop his ideas. Sweden hasn't played like this for a long time.
"It's not the traditional Swedish type of football we're playing right now."
