One place two fighter - CR7 or Ibra!?

Whatever happens, the World Cup will be missing one of these two stars. The Brazil World Cup will transpire without the presence of either Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, both of whom are enjoying the best form of their careers. In exchange, we will be treated to 180 minutes of real, urgent, intense and merciless football. It is time for the play-offs.

The first battle is set to take place on Friday in Lisbon. The second and final showdown is in Solna on Tuesday.

CR7 has never scored in Sweden, but the Portuguese star is never one to shy away from a challenge. He is currently enjoying his status at the helm of his national team: he has not trained for two days, spending his time in the spa as he licks his wounds after taking a blow to his foot.

Ibrahimovic is spending his days in the run-up to the game in Lisbon in a similar fashion, as he recovers from a knock to his knee which was never going to keep him out of this match. All of his teammates are speaking to journalists from around the globe, who have rarely been so interested in the Swedish side.

"Portugal is the favourite, but Sweden deserves to go to the World Cup," said 'Gazzetta dello Sport'. The Swede is on scintillating form. He has scored 10 goals in his last five games for PSG and is the great hope of his Qatari bosses to take the club to the Champions League final this season after winning the French league last year.

Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo have faced each other on seven occasions: twice with their national sides (goalless draws), four times in the Champions League and once in La Liga.


/Marca/