Stars of UEFA EURO 2016: Xherdan Shaqiri
Friday, January 8, 2016
Article summary
A fearsome winger who is starting to hit peak form in the Premier League, Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri is our latest potential star of UEFA EURO 2016.
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At a glance
Only 24, Shaqiri has already played in three of Europe's top leagues. He has won three league titles and two national cups with both Basel and Bayern, where he was also part of the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League-winning squad, though he did not play in the final. A switch to English Premier League side Stoke City has enabled him to get more game time, and his performances of late have been superb.
International pedigree
Shaqiri helped Switzerland to reach the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final, where they lost out to Spain, and went to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals as a teenager too. He played a more prominent role at the 2014 finals, starting all of Switzerland's games in Brazil and scoring a hat-trick against Honduras to hep steer his side to the round of 16, where a touch of Lionel Messi magic ended their campaign.
What he offers
Importance for Switzerland
A left-footer mainly deployed on the right wing, Shaqiri can be a fearsome creative force, crossing and dribbling ably. He is also adept at taking on defenders – not an aptitude that is common in the Switzerland squad. Shaqiri can also play in the hole behind the strikers, where Switzerland have had creative problems at times.
International career
Debut: Switzerland 1-3 Uruguay, 14 November 2009 (friendly)
Appearances: 51
Goals: 17
EURO final tournament (Switzerland record)
Appearances: 0 (Hakan Yakin and Patrick Müller, 6)
Goals: 0 (Hakan Yakin, 3)
