COLOGNE, Germany: “Shaq” did it again.
At the age of 32 and having left top-flight European soccer behind to play in MLS, Xherdan Shaqiri is back on the international stage and back scoring again.
His stunning first-half strike secured a 1-1 draw for Switzerland against Scotland at Euro 2024 on Wednesday.
It is the sixth-straight major international tournament in which Shaqiri has scored, dating back to the World Cup in 2014.
That’s three World Cups in a row and now three European Championships for the Chicago Fire forward.
“He proved tonight that he lives and breathes for moments like these,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said.
Shaqiri rolled back the years with a first-time curling effort from about 20 meters out at Cologne Stadium.
Scotland had led from the 13th minute when Scott McTominay’s shot took a wicked deflection off Fabian Schar to beat Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
But Shaqiri pounced on Anthony Ralston’s loose pass in the 26th to even the match with a left-footed shot into the top corner and past Scotland keeper Angus Gunn.
“If that chance falls to any other player in the Swiss team, it’s not a goal,” Scotland manager Steve Clarke said. “You knew when it was rolling toward Shaqiri it was destined for the back of the net. He’s a top, top player, so you don’t give top, top players that kind of chance.”
Shaqiri’s career has seen him play for some of Europe’s most iconic teams, including Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Liverpool. He joined Chicago Fire two years ago, but in that time has continued to produce for his country on the biggest stage.
“Shaq always gives everything in training,” Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji said. “I don’t know how many other players are able to score that goal.”
The draw leaves Switzerland on four points, second in Group A behind Germany and likely to advance to the round of 16.
Germany became the first nation to advance to the round of 16 after 2-0 win over Hungary.
Scotland’s hopes of making the knockout round depend on its final game against Hungary on Sunday and results elsewhere. No team has failed to advance from the group stage with four points.
Both teams had chances to win the game.
The Swiss should have taken the lead just before the hour mark when Dan Ndoye turned Kieran Tierney on the edge of the box. With just goalkeeper Angus Gunn to beat, Ndoye fired wide of goal.
Grant Hanley then headed against the post from a Scotland free kick and Switzerland’s Zeki Amdouni headed wide at the far post late on.
Scotland has never advanced beyond the group stage of a World Cup or Euros on 11 previous attempts.
But repeated disappointment doesn’t seem to dampen optimism among its fans, who filled Cologne’s square before the game.
Swiss fans were out in numbers, too, creating a raucous atmosphere in the stadium.
It was certainly a more enjoyable evening for Scotland’s fans than the opening game of the Euros — a 5-1 loss to Germany.
“It was what we expected. It was a good reaction to a disappointing night. We’re still alive in the tournament,” Clarke said.
Goals from Jamal Musiala and İlkay Gündoğan made it two wins from two for host Germany after victory against Hungary and ensured there would be no repeat of its group stage exit from the 2022 World Cup.
Albania substitute Klaus Gjasula scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to hold World Cup semifinalist Croatia to a 2-2 draw in Group B. Gjasula’s own goal, just four minutes after entering the game in the second half, had looked like handing Croatia the win until his late strike.
Shaqiri scores stunning goal in Switzerland’s 1-1 draw with Scotland at Euro 2024
https://arab.news/6q4pz
Shaqiri scores stunning goal in Switzerland’s 1-1 draw with Scotland at Euro 2024
- It is the sixth-straight major international tournament in which Shaqiri has scored, dating back to the World Cup in 2014
Manchester City crush Liverpool to mark Guardiola’s 1,000 match
- Liverpool have now lost five of their last six league games to leave the defending champions down in eighth, eight points off the top
MANCHESTER: Manchester City celebrated Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th game in management with a statement 3-0 win over Liverpool to close to within four points of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Erling Haaland shrugged off missing an early penalty to head in his 99th Premier League goal before Nico Gonzalez’s deflected effort and a wonder strike from Jeremy Doku confirmed City’s status as Arsenal’s major title rivals.
Liverpool have now lost five of their last six league games to leave the defending champions down in eighth, eight points off the top.
Arsenal’s 10-game winning run came to an end in a 2-2 draw at Sunderland on Saturday and Guardiola’s men took full advantage in the battle of the two sides that have dominated the Premier League over the past decade.
“Thank you to the players and staff for giving me that incredible present,” said Guardiola on marking his 1,000th game in style.
“I said to the players ‘guys, don’t do it because yesterday Arsenal didn’t win. Let’s do it to believe ourselves’.
“We play against the champions of England. Show them that we are able to be there with them (Arsenal) this season and today I think we proved it.”
Even if decisions went against Arne Slot’s men, this was another show of how far they have fallen since cruising to a 2-0 win at the Etihad in February.
The Reds showed signs of a revival in beating Aston Villa and Real Madrid in the past eight days, but had no answer to the slickness of a rejuvenated City, who have won 11 of their last 14 games in all competitions.
“We need to improve and that’s obvious,” said Slot.
“The first focus is getting results. The last thing we should focus on right now is the title race.”
- Doku bamboozles Bradley -
Conor Bradley shut down the threat of Madrid’s Vinicius Junior on Tuesday but was given a torrid time by the pace and trickery of Doku down City’s left.
Doku made the most of Ibrahima Konate’s clearance off Bradley to round Giorgi Mamardashvili before his trailing leg was clipped by the Georgian.
Referee Chris Kavanagh was initially unmoved but pointed to the spot after a VAR review.
Haaland has struck 28 times already this season for club and country, but is yet to score for City from the spot as Mamardashvili redeemed himself by getting down low to his left to save.
But the Norwegian has still only failed to score in two of his 18 appearances this season and duly delivered with a looping header to meet Matheus Nunes’ wicked delivery on 29 minutes.
Liverpool thought they were level nine minutes later when Van Dijk’s header from a corner arrowed into the far corner.
However, Andy Robertson ducked out the way of his captain’s effort and was deemed to have interfered with Gianluigi Donnarumma from an offside position.
Instead of going in all square, City rubbed salt in the wounds of Liverpool’s perceived injustice.
The visitors were slow to get out from a corner and Gonzalez had time to take aim before his shot deflected off Van Dijk to wrong-foot Mamardashvili.
Liverpool only had themselves to blame for not getting back in the game early in the second period as Cody Gakpo blazed over with the goal gaping at the end of a fine move involving Mohamed Salah and Bradley.
Doku fittingly rounded off arguably his best performance in three seasons at City in style to seal victory just after the hour mark.
The Belgian jinked inside the leaden-footed Konate before curling into the top corner from outside the box.
Salah then summed up Liverpool’s day and season so far when he dinked wide a glorious chance 10 minutes from time.
