Zlatan's big handicap

This time the dodgy knee belongs to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a sportsman with all the flair of Woods but hitherto little of his champion's temperament. Yet so far in Euro 2008, the mercurial one has offered a fair impression of the golfer's indomitability as, for once, he's delivered what his ability always promised despite having to fight through the pain of a swollen left knee to carry Sweden's Group D challenge.

His two goals, the wonderful half-volley which downed Greece and an equaliser against Spain which was a reward for persistence as much as skill, have ensured that Sweden require just a point in Innsbruck tonight to progress to what looks like an increasingly unenviable last eight meeting with Holland in Basle on Saturday.

Yet with a bright young Russian side, bolstered by the return of star playmaker Andriy Arshavin after suspension and led by the battle-hardened coach Guus Hiddink, gunning for the win which would enable them to qualify instead, it is little wonder that Sweden are obsessing about Ibrahimovic's fitness, fancying that they'll require another moment of magic from "Ibracadabra" to smooth their passage.

Whether he will last 90 minutes seems unlikely. Withdrawn at half-time against Spain, the 26-year-old has since been undergoing intensive treatment, including both ultrasound and acupuncture, to try to reduce the swelling.

"He's not played a full game for quite a long time due to his tendon disorder so we have to be careful with Zlatan," said the team doctor Anders Valentin. "I have just assured Inter Milan that we won't misuse him." Just as well, otherwise Ibrahimovic's new club boss, Jose Mourinho, will be on the rampage.

It's long been believed that Mourinho is no great admirer of Ibrahimovic, believing him to be too flaky for his liking. Yet maybe the Special One has got lucky again, taking the reins just when it appears the egotistic wild child of old has disappeared and a grown-up Zlatan has appeared, enjoying the most productive season of his career with 17 goals in Inter's Serie A triumph.

"He has matured as a person and as a player," conceded Sweden coach Lars Lagerback, who reckons the pair have kissed and made up since he sent Ibrahimovic home before a Euro qualifier two years ago because he'd broken a team curfew and gone nightclubbing.

At least the Russians all know Ibrahimovic's name. Which is a bit more than can be said for the Swedish camp's sketchy knowledge of their opposition. "This guy, the No7 - I've a hard time remembering their names, I hope I'm not considered disrespectful - resembles Arshavin a lot," Lagerback bumbled the other day.

Actually, his failure to recognise Dmitri Torbinski did betray a hint of disrespect. He knows all about Arshavin, though, the man who ran rings around both England for his country and Rangers for his club, Zenit St Petersburg, last season.

And he is completely au fait with Hiddink's record of having reached the knock-out stage at every international tournament he's coached at.

With the extra incentive of an opportunity to meet his Dutch compatriots in the quarter-finals, the 'golden Guus' remains a man to be feared.