Xherdan Shaqiri believes Switzerland have all of the instruments they should make it to the World Cup quarter-finals, however they might want to work collectively if they’re to beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal within the final 16 on Tuesday.
The Swiss have been on the unsuitable finish of a 4-1 thrashing in Lisbon when the perimeters met within the Nations League in June earlier than bouncing again with a 1-0 win, however none of that may matter in a knockout sport, Shaqiri stated.
“For me it is gonna be totally different, because there is no friendly game, this is no Nations League, the pressure is high, and so now it’s important how the players deal with this pressure,” the 31-year-old informed reporters on Sunday.
“We need a special performance. Portugal to be honest, they are a good team and for me also the favourite in this game, but we know our qualities too. We will try to have a good, special performance and try to cause them a lot of problem in the game.”
Winger Shaqiri scored in Switzerland’s high-pressure 3-2 win over Serbia to arrange the conflict with Ronaldo’s Portugal, and with the main target now switching to knockout soccer, the stakes are even greater.
“The key is really to have special performance from the whole team because you know, we are Switzerland, we have no Cristianos in our team,” Shaqiri stated with a wry smile.
“As a crew, we’re all the time profitable and that is gonna be additionally on this sport the identical. Everybody (has to) stick collectively. If everyone goes to the very best stage of their efficiency, then I’m certain now we have an opportunity to undergo.
