June 20th 2024.
Once again, Xherdan Shaqiri has proven his talent and resilience on the soccer field. At 32 years old, he may have left the top European leagues behind to play in the MLS, but he is back on the international stage and scoring goals like never before. In the Euro 2024 match against Scotland on Wednesday, his stunning first-half strike secured a 1-1 draw for Switzerland.
It seems that Shaqiri has a knack for scoring in major international tournaments, as he has now scored in six consecutive ones, dating all the way back to the 2014 World Cup. This includes three World Cups in a row and now three European Championships, making him the first player to achieve this feat according to UEFA. His coach, Murat Yakin, praised him for his dedication and ability to perform in high-pressure moments.
In the game against Scotland, Shaqiri reminded everyone of his incredible talent with a beautiful curling shot from about 20 meters out. This equalized the score after Scotland had taken the lead in the 13th minute with a deflected goal. Shaqiri's left-footed shot into the top corner left the Scottish goalkeeper, Angus Gunn, with no chance of saving it. Scotland's manager, Steve Clarke, acknowledged Shaqiri's skill and admitted that when the ball falls to him in those situations, it's almost guaranteed to end up in the back of the net.
Shaqiri's impressive career has seen him play for some of the most prestigious clubs in Europe, including Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Liverpool. Despite joining the MLS's Chicago Fire two years ago, he has continued to shine for his national team on the biggest stage. His teammate, Manuel Akanji, praised his dedication and highlighted that not many players could have scored a goal like Shaqiri did in that game.
The draw against Scotland leaves Switzerland with four points and in second place in Group A, behind Germany. They are likely to advance to the round of 16 but will have to wait for the results of their final group game. Germany, on the other hand, became the first nation to advance after a 2-0 win against Hungary earlier in the day.
For Scotland, their hopes of making it to the knockout round now depend on their final game against Hungary and other results. Despite never advancing beyond the group stage in 11 previous attempts, their fans remain optimistic and showed up in numbers to support their team in Cologne. The atmosphere in the stadium was raucous, with both Swiss and Scottish supporters making their presence known.
The match itself was an exciting one, with both teams having multiple chances to take the lead. The Swiss will rue their missed opportunity in the 60th minute when Dan Ndoye failed to convert a one-on-one chance against the Scottish goalkeeper. Scotland also came close to scoring, with Grant Hanley hitting the post from a free kick and Switzerland's Zeki Amdouni missing a header late in the game.
Germany's second win in the tournament, thanks to goals from Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gündogan, means that they have secured their spot in the next round. This also ensures that there will be no repeat of their disappointing group stage exit in the 2022 World Cup. In another Group B match, substitute Klaus Gjasula scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time for Albania, securing a 2-2 draw against World Cup semifinalist Croatia. This was an unexpected result, especially considering that Gjasula had scored an own goal just minutes after coming on as a substitute earlier in the game.
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