a record for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Greece on the heels of the Blues … What to remember from Friday’s matches

The show was at the Stade de France but we also played on the other lawns of the Old Continent. If the Blues took the lead in Pool B of the Euro 2024 qualifiers, Friday March 24, by martyring the Dutch defense (4-0), Greece also won in the other match of the group. At the same time, Zlatan Ibrahimovic entered – a little more – into the legend of European football thanks to yet another broken longevity record.

A new record for Zlatan

By coming into play against Belgium in place of Alexander Isak in the 73rd minute, the Swedish striker became the oldest player to play a qualifying match for a European championship in 41 years, five months and 21 days. Back in selection a year after his last cape due to a serious injury to his right knee, Zlatan Ibrahimovic erased from the shelves the record of Italian world champion goalkeeper, Dino Zoff, established in 1983 (41 years, three months and a day).

Launched to sound the revolt of his team, then led by two goals by the Red Devils, the Milanese did not however weigh on the end of the match. Sweden eventually lost 3-0 in Stockholm. Badly launched in these playoffs, Zlatan’s partners will have to recover to qualify. Especially since the giant hopes to become, at over 42, the oldest player to participate in a final phase of a Euro.

Greece insures against Gibraltar

In the other match of the France team group, Greece easily got rid of Gibraltar (3-0). Facing the 200th nation in the FIFA rankings, the team trained by the former Uruguayan coach of Bordeaux, Gustavo Poyet, has never been worried. Evidenced by a single strike suffered in 90 minutes by the national star and goalkeeper of Benfica, Odysséas Vlachodimos. Thanks to this success, the Greeks take second place in the group behind the Blues on goal difference.