Granit Xhaka starring for Switzerland and Leverkusen: How the former Arsenal midfielder became world class | Football News

Granit Xhaka starring for Switzerland and Leverkusen: How the former Arsenal midfielder became world class | Football News


The official player of the match against Hungary and Germany, Granit Xhaka was also described as “the best player on the pitch” by Roy Keane in Switzerland’s 2-0 win over Italy in the round of 16. He is having an extraordinary Euro 2024.

England await in the last eight and, with concerns over an injury, it is no exaggeration to suggest that Switzerland’s hopes may hang on Xhaka’s fitness. There is much at stake. He could be one more big performance away from being the player of this tournament.

For English audiences, those who recall Xhaka being booed from the field by his own supporters when an Arsenal player in 2019, all this requires a bit of mental recalibration. He has morphed into one of the best midfielders in the world in these past two years.

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Xhaka was the player of the match in Switzerland’s win over Hungary

“My bags were packed. The passports were out,” he later revealed when discussing that day against Crystal Palace that resulted in him being stripped of the Arsenal captaincy. Instead, he stayed and became a driving force in the club’s revival under Mikel Arteta.

This past season, Xhaka won the double with Bayer Leverkusen, surely the outstanding accomplishment in European football in 2024. At 31 years old, the boy famously trusted with his parents’ house keys as a kid has finally grown up. A late bloomer, after all.

Arteta began the process. Xhaka had won back the crowd long before he departed, scoring twice in his final appearance for the club and being serenaded from the field. Reimagined as a No 8 on the left of midfield, it better suited the strengths of his game.

The Arsenal coach recognised that while the statuesque Xhaka has the physique to dominate midfield, he is at his best with the ball at his feet in the attacking half of the field rather than focusing on shutting down the opposition when his team are without it.

At Euro 2024, only Toni Kroos and Joshua Kimmich have completed more passes in the final third. And Xhaka has been doing it for Switzerland not the highly fancied host nation. If that sample is small, consider that he has been doing it all year for Leverkusen.

Granit Xhaka's passing stats for Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season
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Xhaka’s passing stats for Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season

Xhaka heaped praise on Xabi Alonso after Bayer Leverkusen won the title

Xhaka was the catalyst for Xabi Alonso’s remarkable side when in possession. Not only did he complete more passes than any other player in the Bundesliga last season but he also topped those charts in the opposition half and the final third of the pitch as well.

Nobody played more accurate forward passes than Xhaka, 708 of them, moving Leverkusen into the final third on a league-high 440 occasions. His influence on his side is illustrated by the fact that he featured in more pass sequences than anyone else too.

“He has had a huge impact on the team since day one,” says Alonso, adding simply: “If you have good midfielders, you play better.” Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes sees it much the same. “He is an exceptional player. He sets the tempo for our team.”

Watch Xhaka’s stunning strike for Bayer Leverkusen against Werder Bremen

In his own words, Xhaka was signed to “stabilise this young team”. – to be Alonso’s eyes and ears on the pitch. He is already taking his coaching badges. And while he stops short of seeing himself as a father figure, his importance to club and country is obvious.

Rolfes refers to his influence “on and off the field” – something that Switzerland coach Murat Yakin had in mind when calling him “top class” and a “role model” following his standout performance against Germany, in which they were just minutes from victory.

DFB-Pokal, Season 2023/2024, Final 1.FC Kaiserslautern - Bayer 04 Leverkusen Granit Xhaka scores the goal to make it 1-0 versus goalkeeper Julian Krahl
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Xhaka scored the only goal of the game in the cup final against Kaiserslautern

Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka lifts the trophy after the German Soccer Cup final match between 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Bayer Leverkusen at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
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Xhaka lifts the trophy as Bayer Leverkusen completed the double in Berlin

What happens next? Switzerland have reached the quarter-final of a major tournament on four occasions but never gone further. If history repeats, Xhaka can return to his club with head held high, proud of his summer efforts. And yet, there is another scenario.

Vinicius Junior is odds-on favourite to win the Ballon d’Or with Jude Bellingham next in the betting. Kylian Mbappe and Toni Kroos are the other contenders and international silverware for any of the four this summer would put them in pole position for the award.

But if it is Switzerland, now three wins from history and in the more inviting half of this Euro 2024 draw, then can any of football’s superstars truly claim to have had a better season than Xhaka? Unlikely glory with Leverkusen and now starring for his country.

It was Xhaka who scored the only goal in the German Cup Final in Berlin to complete the double. If Switzerland somehow find their way back to the Olympiastadion next weekend, this season of all seasons for Granit Xhaka could have a sensational ending.

Lamine Yamal helps Spain’s style evolve, Granit Xhaka pulls strings for Switzerland – Euro 2024 hits and misses | Football News

Lamine Yamal helps Spain’s style evolve, Granit Xhaka pulls strings for Switzerland – Euro 2024 hits and misses | Football News


Yamal helps Spain’s style evolve

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Lamine Yamal was excellent in Spain’s win over Croatia

Spain’s meeting with Croatia ended a run of 136 competitive fixtures in which they have had more possession than their opponents, dating back 16 years to their win over Germany in the final of Euro 2008.

And yet, despite only having a 47 per cent share of the ball in Saturday’s Group B encounter, the win could hardly have been more convincing, sealed during a clinical first-half showing.

It is only 18 months since Spain exited the World Cup with a limp penalty shoot-out loss to Morocco during which they made 1,000 passes and yet only mustered one shot on target, a statistic which summed up their struggles in turning possession into chances.

Watching this much-changed side against Croatia, though, a side featuring a 16-year-old Lamine Yamal on one flank and a 21-year-old Nico Williams on the other, was a very different experience.

Instead of directionless passing, there was incision, typified by the Fabian Ruiz through-ball that carved Croatia open for the opening goal, and the many moments when Williams and, to an even greater extent Yamal, sprang forward following transitions.

Their speed and directness appears to have given Spain a different dimension from other recent tournaments. It may be at odds with their identity but it is one which makes them a more difficult opponent, and a better bet to go deep this time around.
Nick Wright

Xhaka pulls strings for Switzerland in player-of-match display

Switzerland's Granit Xhaka, left, and Hungary's Dominik Szoboszlai challenge for the ball during a Group A match between Hungary and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Granit Xhaka put in a captain’s performance for Switzerland as he led his side to a 3-1 opening win over Hungary.

The midfielder was key for club last season as he helped Bayer Leverkusen to a surprise Bundesliga and German Cup double, and is translating his fine form to the international stage.

The ex-Arsenal man had the most touches, the most passes completed and the most passes in the final third of any player in Cologne as he pulled the strings for Switzerland.

The 31-year-old’s superb display was deservedly rewarded by UEFA as he was named the player of the match.

The UEFA technical observer panel said: “He was excellent in possession, both in build-up play and in supplying penetrating passes.

“He displayed a great work ethic and showed superb leadership, offering great organisational skills.”

Scotland face Switzerland next in Group A on Wednesday and Steve Clarke’s side will have to limit Xhaka’s influence if they are to get a much-needed positive result.
Declan Olley

‘Dark horses’ Hungary now left with little room for manoeuvre

Barnabas Varga stoops to pull a goal back for Hungary against Switzerland
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Barnabas Varga gave Hungary hope with this second-half header against Switzerland

Hungary were many people’s dark horses for the Euros after going through their qualifying campaign unbeaten, but following the chastening 3-1 loss to Switzerland in Cologne, Marco Rossi’s side are now in danger of not even making it out of a tough-looking Group A.

They produced a limp first-half showing at the RheinEnergieStadion to deservedly trail 2-0 at the break and, despite improving in the second period – which was not hard – it was too little, too late.

Rossi held his hands up after the match, taking responsibility for his team’s lethargic display, saying: “The first half was very bad, we were too passive.

“I am not looking to point fingers. I am the coach, so I take responsibility.

“It’s hard to correct the kind of mistakes that we made. Our players do not make mistakes like this every day.”

Hungary will need to show more of what we saw in the second half, especially from their influential captain Dominik Szoboszlai – invisible before the interval and more like the player we saw in the first half of last season for Liverpool – when they face hosts Germany in Stuttgart on Wednesday if they are not to be on the verge of an early exit from the tournament.
Richard Morgan

Uncharacteristic Croatia must tighten up

Croatia players gather at the end of a Group B match between Spain and Croatia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Spain defeated Croatia 3-0. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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Croatia were blown away by Spain in the first half

For a nation that consistently punches above its weight at the World Cup, Croatia have a surprisingly mediocre record at the Euros, only reaching the quarter-finals – and no further – twice in six attempts.

Being drawn in a group with Spain and Italy did nothing to increase the chances of Croatia finally reaching the final four – and nor did their first outing in Germany.

Zlatko Dalic’s side worked their way back into the game after a passive start, but they were blown away in a 13-minute spell before half-time. Usually so robust, each of Spain’s goals were aided by disorganised and weak Croatia defending.

Equally concerning for Dalic will be how little influence his fabled midfield was able to exert, with only Mateo Kovacic emerging from the contest with credit. At times, Luka Modric looked like the 38-year-old that he is.

Maybe that’s because, unlike at Real Madrid, Modric was working with limited quality in front of him. Andrej Kramaric and Ante Budimir were anonymous, while Bruno Petkovic’s penalty miss summed up his contribution.

Fortunately for Croatia, they have what should be their easiest group game up next, facing Albania on Wednesday. The fact that only eight teams are eliminated at the group stage also works in their favour.

But Dalic’s team need to tighten up defensively – and demand more from their forwards – if they are to be taken seriously at this tournament.
Joe Shread