At 36, Sweden striker Henrik Larsson is bucking the trend at Euro 2008 at a time when players are hanging up their international boots due to the increasing demands of the game.

After retiring twice from the international stage, the lure of another major finals and his son's wish to see him pull on the yellow jersey again proved too much to resist for the veteran scorer of 36 goals in 95 appearances for his country.

"My reasons for returning are well documented by now, but the main thing is that I feel good and I feel it is right for me," Larsson said at Sweden's lakeside training base at the foot of the Alps.

Amid a highly cluttered soccer calendar in which players find themselves sandwiched between domestic and international commitments, Larsson is becoming an exception to the rule.

Many players have chosen to put club before country, citing the pressures on their bodies, family life and contract commitments.

England manager Fabio Capello has tried to tempt Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes back on to the international stage.

Ireland's new coach Giovanni Trapattoni also recently attempted to talk a number of Irish players out of retirement, but without much success.

"When I decided to retire I didn't think I would be still playing at this level and feeling so good," Larsson said.

"But I think everybody has the right to make their own decisions. I have made my decision and made the reasons well known."

Larsson, who now plays with his hometown club Helsingborg, is not the oldest player at Euro 2008. That honour falls to Austrian forward Ivica Vastic, who is two years older than Larsson.

But since Vastic is no longer first choice for the co-hosts, the Swede could be the oldest player to start a match when Sweden face Greece, Spain and Russia in Group D.

Voted Sweden's best player of all time, Larsson was a late and surprise inclusion in Lars Lagerback's squad after his second retirement following Sweden's exit from the World Cup in 2006.

But Lagerback's decision to lure the former Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United attacker back into the fold for Euro 2008 has given added impetus to the Swedish squad.

"He is in the side on merit and deserves to be here," Swedish coach Lagerback said.

"He is a massive player for us and will be a major influence in the squad."

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who last scored for Sweden in October 2005, said on Friday that he hoped Larsson would be picked as his partner to help him end his long goal drought.

Many players mentioned Larsson's sharpness in front of goal, while others have pointed to his influence off the pitch.

"He (Larsson) is a good friend of mine off the pitch so I am delighted he is here and I think we all are. Hopefully, he will make the difference for us on the pitch," defender Olof Mellberg said.

Defender Daniel Majstorovic, appearing at his first major finals, said: "He is a big player. He has a great personality and takes care of the younger players. He is a player we all trust and we ask for advice."

Captain Fredrik Ljungberg said Larsson has adapted his game to allow him compete so long at the top level.

"He has been away for a little bit but it's great to have him with us. He has a lot of experience and maybe brings an extra style of game and gives us a few more options," he said.

"He has managed to adapt his style which makes him as important to us as ever."

Reuters