Ibrahimovic: English players should reflect, have the best league but the national team is weak

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has called on England players to reflect and ask how good they really are after suffering a latest failure to reach the 2026 World Cup final with defeat to Argentina.

England have now lost three World Cup semi-finals - 1990, 2018 and 2026 - since last reaching the final in 1966, when they beat West Germany to become world champions.

Although England has a league widely considered the best and most exciting in world football with the English League (Premier League), the Three Lions have not won a major international trophy since the glory of the 1966 World Cup or 60 years ago.

Ibrahimovic, who played in two World Cups with Sweden, believes England suffered another blow with the defeat to Argentina.

"If you look back, England have won the World Cup. How many times has England beaten a real team? Can I ask the audience here? A real team? Yesterday they played against a real team (Argentina) in a big tournament."

"Winning against Norway, with all due respect to Norway, it's not the real team. I'm Swedish, it's just a joke."

"However, Argentina are the real team. So, yes, England, they showed fight, they showed their mentality. But, to be honest, they didn't beat the real team."

"When you beat a real team, then you start to talk. However, I know the English press, they like gossip, they like propaganda to build their image, to make them great."

"Yesterday was a reminder of reality. There is a level in these games. Level. That's the difference. Look in the mirror and ask yourself how good are you?" said Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic, who spent two seasons at Manchester United between 2016-2018, said the strength of the English League should not be used as a benchmark for England's strength as a football country.

"People, in their own minds, they think they are great, better than others. However, the reality is that the English League is not only based on English players."

"You have a mix of foreign players who represent the English League and that's why the English League is good," he said.

Apart from that, England still has one match left, namely the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff, against France - which is certainly not a game to look forward to. Even if they win over Les Bleus, the third-place title can't cure the Three Lions' wait.