This season couldn’t have been better for Granit Xhaka and now he has the perfect opportunity to lead his country to victory at Euro 2024.
He goes into Euro 2024 feeling confident after an unbeaten domestic season with Bayer Leverkusen and the club’s first Bundesliga title in its 120-year history.
The midfielder was a standout performer at the tournament, winning the tournament’s best player award in Switzerland’s opening win over Hungary and the crucial 1-1 draw with Germany.
However, despite being Switzerland’s all-time most capped player, Xhaka’s international career has been a controversial one, with more negative things than positive.
Expectations are high in Switzerland ahead of their round of 16 match against Italy on Saturday (kick-off at 5pm BST) as they hope Xhaka can captain the team to victory and fulfil the potential that has only flitted sporadically so far.
“Success brings confidence and this season it was an important challenge for me. [at Bayer Leverkusen]” said Xhaka at the start of the tournament.
“It’s a pleasure to be there every day as a footballer. It hasn’t been a perfect season because we lost the Europa League final, but now it’s a new challenge.”
“Your last chance to make it in Switzerland”
Xhaka’s impressive season at Leverkusen, in which he played a key role in Xabi Alonso’s title-winning midfield, drew attention back home.
Local journalists described this season as “the best of his career” and were optimistic that he could carry his club form onto the international stage.
Laurent Ducret, a Swiss journalist writing for Keystone SDA, told BBC Sport that Euro 2024 is Xhaka’s “last chance to succeed with Switzerland”.
“He played very well in the training matches before the Euros but he didn’t show his best level with Switzerland. He has always performed better for his clubs,” Ducouré added.
That’s a view widely shared among its supporters.
Asked whether Xhaka had performed well for Switzerland so far, Aular, a fan from Geneva who was in Frankfurt for the group stage matches, said: “Not at all. Not yet.”
But journalists and fans still see hope in Xhaka, with newspaper Aural arguing that “we will make a statue of him” if he leads Switzerland to the final in Germany.
He has certainly played his part so far, dominating in midfield and providing leadership as Switzerland cruised through the group with ease.
“I thought Xhaka was really good all night,” Leicester defender Conor Coady told BBC Two after Switzerland’s draw with Germany.
“He’s been great at managing the midfield and will go into the tournament with a lot of confidence either way, given how well he’s done this season.”
“To see him stand in front of the back five, directing the players, going across the pitch to the penalty area… I thought it was just brilliant.”
Apart from a disappointing performance against Scotland, Xhaka has been one of the standout performers in the tournament.
He will be tested again in the upcoming match against Italy but Xhaka is grateful for the recognition for his individual performance and is excited by the team’s progress.
“I don’t really like numbers or individual trophies. [like the man of the match awards]let me say that,” Shaka said.
“Obviously I’m happy, I’m not going to lie about that, but what makes me even happier is the team, the way the guys work for each other and the level of play.”
“Six months ago we were nowhere near where we are today. The intensity of the training is much higher and the quality is much better.”
“No one knows who’s going to start until the morning of the game. That makes us stronger. I’m happy to be a part of this team.”
“He came here with confidence.”
Xhaka’s career has been marked by criticism and controversy, including his time at Arsenal, where his temperament was questioned and he was stripped of the captaincy after being booed by the home fans during a draw with Crystal Palace.
A similar pattern has continued for his country, who have consistently failed to reach the last 16 of major tournaments, including a penalty shootout defeat to Poland in 2016 when only Xhaka missed the penalty.
In 2018, there was rumours that Xhaka might switch teams to Kosovo, with former players, including ex-Liverpool defender Stefan Henchoz, questioning the decision to give Xhaka the Switzerland captain’s armband.
However, in recent years, Xhaka has turned things around and has proven to be a consistent performer for Switzerland and a key player in the team’s midfield.
He has the support of his teammates and is increasingly confident that he is finally playing his best football for Switzerland.
Now, fresh from the best season of his career in Germany, can Xhaka bring glory to Switzerland?
“I hope so. He’s had a really good season at Leverkusen and it would be great to finally win a title in Germany,” forward Xherdan Shaqiri told BBC Sport.
“He comes here with more confidence. He already has a lot of confidence, but he’s grown even more so. I’m happy for him.”
“He’s got the players backing him and we’re looking forward to him taking this forward. The national team [puts] There is more pressure on him now and he has to deal with it.
“But I’m very happy that he has won titles with Leverkusen and I hope he continues to do so in the future.”
