Football
ESPN staff 6y

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Beckham make friendly wager on Sweden-England

Zlatan Ibrahimoivc and David Beckham are good friends, former teammates and have a lot in common -- including playing for four of the same clubs during their careers -- but on Saturday the two global superstars will be rivals for at least 90 minutes.

With Ibrahimovic's Sweden set to take on Beckham's England in the World Cup quarterfinals, the current LA Galaxy star and the former Galaxy, Man United and Real Madrid midfielder have agreed upon a little friendly wager.

Zlatan initiated the bet (naturally), offering to buy Becks dinner "where ever you want in the world" if England win.

If Sweden win, Zlatan, the country's all-time leading scorer with 62 goals, has demanded that Beckham buy him an item of his choosing from Swedish furniture chain IKEA. Fitting.

Beckham accepted Zlatan's terms regarding IKEA but rebutted the England terms, saying if England win, Zlatan must "come watch an England game at Wembley wearing an England shirt and enjoy fish & chips at half time." Now wouldn't that be a sight!

The other interesting thing to think about is Zlatan's order at IKEA. He has shown he is a man of expensive taste in the past so the possibilities are endless here. A Lion-embroidered couch? A picture frame for a photo of himself? This might be reason enough to pull for Sweden.

Whether it is England or Sweden who win on Saturday, this wager ensures we will be the real winners in the end.

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