Swiss soccer player Xherdan Shaqiri said this Sunday that the meeting with Portugal on Tuesday, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup, will be different from the last two clashes between the two teams for the League of Nations.
“I think it’s going to be a totally different game because it’s not a ‘friendly’ game, this is not the Nations League. The pressure is high and now it’s important to understand how the players deal with it,” Shaqiri said, on the sidelines. Swiss training in Doha.
Portugal and Switzerland met twice in 2022, for the League of Nations, with Portugal thrashing 4-0 at home on June 5 in Alvalade, and losing 1-0 in Geneva a week later because of a goal in the opening minute by Haris Seferovic, a player on loan from Benfica to Galatasaray.
For Shaqiri, currently at the service of the Americans of the Chicago Fire, the Swiss need to put in a “great performance” on Tuesday, in Lusail, to be able to repeat the success of the last meeting.
“Portugal is a good team and they are favorites in this match, but we know our qualities and we will try to create a lot of problems for them,” said the Swiss player.
Shaqiri was the author of the first goal for Switzerland in the decisive match of the third day of the group stage with Serbia (3-2), which allowed the Swiss to finish in second place in Group F, with the same six points as the first, Brazil
“We have to have a special performance from the whole team because we are Switzerland and we don’t have ‘Cristianos,'” said the 31-year-old, adding: “When we act as a team we do it, and that applies.” to this game.”
According to the former Basel, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Stoke City, Liverpool and Lyon player, the secret will be the unity of all the team members.
“We have to be united. If we are all at a high level, we will have a chance to qualify”, concluded Xherdan Shaqiri.
The match between Portugal and Switzerland, the last of the round of 16 of the 2002 World Cup, will take place on Tuesday, at 7:00 p.m. (in Lisbon), in Lusail.
Source: TSF
