Xherdan Shaqiri said Arsenal-bound Granit Xhaka can cope with Euro 2016 heartache after his penalty miss sent Poland into the quarter-finals at Switzerland's expense on Saturday.
Xhaka, who will join the Premier League club after the European Championship finals, sent Switzerland's second penalty wide while Poland nailed all five kicks to seal a 5-4 win in the shoot-out.
"He's disappointed, but that's football and mistakes can happen," said stocky Stoke City winger Shaqiri who was man-of-the-match which was 1-1 after extra-time.
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Shaqiri’s spectacular second-half bicycle kick equaliser saw the Swiss draw level after Jakob Blaszczykowski gave the Poles an early lead.
He said Xhaka, for whom Arsenal paid Borussia Monchengladbach a reported €35 million (Dh143m), can handle the hurt.
“I think Granit is very professional and he can cope with it,” said Shaqiri.
Shaqiri is backing Xhaka to bounce back to help the Swiss qualify for, then play at, the World Cup finals in Russia in two years time.
“Granit will stand up again and I think by the round of the last 16 of the World Cup, he will score again for us,” said Shaqiri.
Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic said he felt for Xhaka, but the defeat hurt more.
“I’m very sad for him, but it’s not just about him, it’s disappointing as the Swiss players gave everything,” said Petkovic.
“We weren’t clinical enough and as a result of the lottery of the penalty shoot-out, if you miss one, it can be crucial.”
Shaqiri said the man-of-the-match award for his stunning goal – arguably the strike of the tournament so far – meant little after defeat.
After the Swiss bowed out at the same stage of the 2014 World Cup to Argentina, Shaqiri said it hurts to again miss out two years after Brazil.
“What can I say, we’re very disappointed, we could have achieved something very big, we had our chances, but we had to learn form this,” said the Stoke winger.
“We had the same situation against Argentina, we’re proud of the way we played.
“We gave 150 per cent and we would have deserved to advance, but penalties are 50/50 and that’s football.”
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MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Results
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Company%C2%A0profile
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
