Ibrahimovic bites back at Denmark: 'I sent their country into retirement'

After scoring twice against Denmark to lead Sweden into Euro 2016, striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic had one more target to hit postgame.

Criticism had washed over the 34-year-old Swede in recent weeks, and defeat in this crucial two-legged playoff would have likely spelled the end of his international career.

Danish supporters jumped on that sentiment, and Ibrahimovic clearly heard it.

"There was the thought that this would send me into retirement. I sent their entire country into retirement," he told Sweden's Kanal 5, courtesy of ESPNFC.

Related: Ibrahimovic powers Sweden into Euro 2016 with brace against Denmark

Ibrahimovic proved indispensable once again for Sweden, accounting for 11 of his country's 18 goals in its qualifying campaign.

He had previously given hints that he could possibly retire from the international scene if he and his compatriots didn't make it to France for next summer's tournament. Those comments only fueled further suggestions that Ibrahimovic had reached his end.

"All of the chat before, and we took ourselves to the playoffs," he added. "Many were disappointed with that, but we still had a chance. We got Denmark, everything was against us. We hadn't won (against them), I hadn't scored a goal, but we stayed patient.

"We knew what we wanted: the people who wanted to go to the European Championships most would get there, and that was us."