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Xherdan Shaqiri has been entertaining the Swiss national team for 13 years. Tricks and dream goals, sloppy ball changes, controversial performances off the field – the magical dwarf uses the full range of emotions and delivers material for the regular table in every match. But how long? When he was asked if he had 90 minutes to play between the last two European Championship qualifiers against Andorra and Romania, he dismissed it as a “stupid question”. Nevertheless, if you compare a career to the seasons, Shaqiri’s leaves begin to change color. And we wonder: does it get boring after him?
Answer: No! Because there is Zeki Amdouni, the last street football player in Switzerland. With the class and entertainment value to one day replace Shaqiri as a national flagship.
Together at the Olympic Games?
Amdouni is currently at the U21 European Championship in Romania. And received an order from Shaqiri for the tournament. In an interview with SRF, he said that he dreams of participating in the Olympic Games. In 2012, when he was actually scheduled for the London tournament, Shaqiri turned it down due to his move from Basel to Bayern Munich. He wants to be there in Paris next year – and hopes that Amdouni will grant him this wish. Because one thing is clear: if the U21s want to be in the top 3 at the European Championships, which is necessary for a place at the Olympic Games, they need an Amdouni in top form.
“It is important for the team that he performs well at the European Championship,” said Shaqiri, “and for him to present himself at this level.” Shaqiri is convinced that Amdouni has what it takes to become the future flagship of the A-Nati: “I am sure he will play an important role and shape the team.” But first he has to prove at a higher level than in Super League that he can consistently deliver top performances at the club. “He has to make the step to a top class in the near future. It is very different from the Super League. We’ll see where the road leads.”
Not only in terms of spectacle, if you look closer, there are also some parallels between Shaqiri and Amdouni: both made their breakthrough at club level at FC Basel, both quickly received a call-up for the senior national team, although they could still play in the juniors for their age to play.
Herz chose Switzerland
Speaking of national teams, both were born abroad and could have played for their parent’s home country. Shaqiri for Albania or Kosovo, Amdouni for Turkey or Tunisia. “My heart has decided”, Amdouni explained his choice for Switzerland. In addition, both have their human pride. Last seen on Shaqiri when asked about age. At Amdouni two years ago when Servette tried to get him back but he refused. Reason: Servette dropped him at age 13 due to a foot injury. Amdouni: “At first they told me that they would not throw anyone out who was injured. Then I had to go.”
After the zero on Servette, Amdouni does not give up. “I always believed that I would become a professional.” Via the Geneva district clubs Meyrin and Etoile Carouge, he ended up in Stade Lausanne-Ouchy in 2019 and made his professional debut at the age of 19. Compared to Shaqiri, he is a late starter: he first dribbled over the Joggeli lawn at the age of 17, was accepted into the FCB youth division at the age of eight and, unlike Amdouni, received professional training as a footballer.
They praise each other
And now they played together for the first time in last week’s European Championship qualifiers against Andorra and Romania. Successful and spectacular: Template Shaqiri, Tor Amdouni. That was noted in both games, with the creation and completion of the second goal against the Romanians being a poem.
“We’re going to have a lot of fun with him,” says Shaqiri about his successor. He returns the praise: “Being on the field with players like Xherdan is like a dream for me.”
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Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
