Sweden coach: Ibrahimovic must call first if he wants to go to World Cup

Sweden national team manager Janne Andersson says Zlatan Ibrahimovic will need to be the one to pick up the phone and call if he does intend to reverse his decision to retire from the national team and play in the 2018 World Cup.

While on Jimmy Kimmel Live! during a promotional tour celebrating his move to the LA Galaxy, the iconic Sweden striker teased he will be at the tournament in Russia, though when prodded to specify if he'd be wearing shoes with studs on the bottom - presumably, Kimmel asking if he would be there as a player - the 36-year-old was coy, suggesting he couldn't answer for fear of being hanged.

And while some of his compatriots have expressed doubts over the role Ibrahimovic would play in Sweden's efforts in Russia this summer, Andersson explained any talk of his inclusion must be initiated by the player first.

"He can do it," Andersson told kicker, as quoted by NBC Sports, in reference to reaching out for a call. "But if he changes his opinion, contacts me, and tells me 'yes, I want to be part of it,' then we'll sit down and discuss what that would mean, how we play these days, and so on. But that's all speculation.

"I don't know (if he'd still fit into the team). But I also don't think about it. I take the things as they come, if they come. If you want to be part of it, you must call me. Easy as that."

With 62 international goals, Ibrahimovic is Sweden's all-time top scorer, but he retired from the national team after Euro 2016. Since then, Sweden qualified for the World Cup without Ibrahimovic's help by ousting Italy in the UEFA qualifying playoff round.

The team was drawn into Group F alongside Germany, Mexico, and South Korea.