Larsson recalled to Sweden squad

Striker Henrik Larsson was a surprise inclusion in Sweden coach Lars Lagerback's 23-man squad for this year's European Championship announced yesterday.

The former Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United striker had retired from the national team after their second round loss to hosts Germany at the 2006 World Cup.

Larsson has not played in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign but has been impressive in the Swedish league with six goals in 11 appearances for his club Helsingborg this season.

"We've been playing well in Helsinborg, playing in the UEFA Cup in the autumn and also playing good football in the Swedish league," Larsson said via telephone at a news conference.

"We've been playing football that has given me a taste for more... football is so much fun. It's a joy."

Larsson added that he wanted to carry on playing for Sweden even after the championship in Austria and Switzerland.

He is one of five strikers in the squad with Inter's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Toulouse's Johan Elmander, Copenhagen veteran Marcus Allback and Werder Bremen's Markus Rosenberg.

Larsson's return for Euro 2008, which runs from June 7-29, marks his third comeback to international football.

After the 2002 World Cup, he announced his retirement only to return the following year for what was billed as a one-off appearance during the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.

However, Larsson was named in the squad for the championship in Portugal and was Sweden's top scorer.

"When I last retired after the (2006) World Cup, I didn't think I would be playing soccer this long and that it would go this well or that there would be another championship," he said.