At the age of 32 and having left top-flight European soccer behind to play in the MLS, Xherdan Shaqiri is back on the international stage and back scoring again, his stunning first-half strike on Wednesday securing a 1-1 draw for Switzerland against Scotland at UEFA Euro.
It is the sixth straight major international tournament in which Shaqiri has scored, dating to the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
That is three World Cups in a row and now three European Championships for the Chicago Fire forward.
Photo: AP
He is the first player to achieve that feat, UEFA said.
“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 20m out at Cologne Stadium.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Scotland led from the 13th minute when Scott McTominay’s shot took a wicked deflection off Fabian Schar to beat Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
However, Shaqiri pounced on Anthony Ralston’s loose pass in the 26th minute to even the match with a left-footed shot into the top corner and past Scotland goalkeeper 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 towards 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.”
Photo: AP
Shaqiri’s career has seen him play for some of Europe’s most iconic teams, including Bayern Munich, Inter and Liverpool. He joined the 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.
Photo: AP
Germany became the first nation to advance after a 2-0 win over Hungary earlier in the day.
Scotland’s hopes of making the knockout round depend on their 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.
Switzerland should have taken the lead just before the hour mark when Dan Ndoye turned Kieran Tierney on the edge of the box. With just Gunn to beat, Ndoye fired wide.
Grant Hanley headed against the post from a Scotland free-kick and Switzerland’s Zeki Amdouni headed wide at the far post late on.
Scotland have never advanced beyond the group stage of a World Cup or Euro on 11 previous attempts, but repeated disappointment does not seem to dampen optimism among their fans, who filled Cologne’s square before the game.
Switzerland supporters 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 tournament — 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 Ilkay Gundogan made it two wins from two for hosts Germany after victory against Hungary and ensured there would be no repeat of their group-stage exit from the 2022 World Cup.
Albania substitute Klaus Gjasula scored in the fifth minute of stoppage-time to hold World Cup semi-finalist 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.
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