Granit Xhaka for his record competition: “I have not received much praise in my life”

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After the golden autumn, the weather has also changed in St. Gallen. Bad weather with rain and 9 degrees is forecast for next Sunday in the city of OLMA.

It will still be a happy day for Granit Xhaka (31). He played his 118th international match against Belarus and tied with Heinz Hermann. The record fills him with pride. “For the country where I was born and raised.”

His strict father shaped him

In June 2011, Ottmar Hitzfeld helped him make his national team debut at Wembley, the cathedral of football. Under the world coach, who still has warm words for the captain of the national team. “His passing quality is absolutely world class. His game intelligence is exceptional,” Hitzfeld told Keystone-SDA.

Xhaka is happy with the flowers. He later says: “I haven’t received much praise in football in my life.” His father Ragip is particularly strict in his assessment. ‘It’s a good thing he never praised me. Because that’s what got me this far. This is my biggest challenge.” Never being enough has shaped and probably driven him. Sooner or later it will prevail everywhere.

France game as highlight

With him, Switzerland qualified for the knockout phase five tournaments in a row. Always in the starting line-up: Granit Xhaka. He calls the victory in the round of 16 against France one of his best international matches. The worst? “Probably against Sweden.” It was the World Cup round of 16 in the aftermath of the double eagle affair.

Later came the tattoo visit during Corona, the dyed hair or putting on the Jashari shirt in Qatar. In addition to the big noises, this, the most controversial footballer in the history of SFV, haunts him throughout his career. He may not be purely Swiss, says Xhaka. «I am someone who dreams bigger, who has a personality and who expresses his opinion openly and honestly. Maybe there aren’t many.”

“Until the European Championship 2028”

Xhaka also dreams big when it comes to the 2024 European Championship. “We have the quality, the hunger and high-level players who can achieve great things. But to achieve this we have to work every day and push ourselves to the limit. That’s easier said than done.”

How long does he want to continue? “Until the European Championships in 2028,” he says laughing, adding that in addition to personal passion, the coach also plays a major role. A statement that can also be interpreted as a setback after Xhaka’s recent criticism of the coach and association. A piece of Granit Xhaka should not be missing for the record game.

Source : Blick