Find out how Granit Xhaka performed for Switzerland as they faced Poland in the last 16 of Euro 2016.
Granit Xhaka SwitzerlandGranit Xhaka
Saturday, June 25, Switzerland 1-1 Poland (Poland win 5-4 on penalties)
Granit Xhaka played the full 120 minutes of Switzerland’s Euro 2016 last-16 defeat against Poland. After Arkadiusz Milk and Robert Lewandowski had spurned first-half chances, Poland were rewarded for their dominance when Jakub Blaszczykowski fired home at the far post on the stroke of half-time. Fabian Schar was lucky not to receive a red card for a robust challenge after the break, but then the Swiss began to control proceedings. First Ricardo Rodriguez forced former Gunner Lukasz Fabianski into a sensational save with a 25-yard free-kick before Haris Seferovic rattled the crossbar. Switzerland’s pressure soon paid off, though, when Sheridan Shaqiri equalised with a stunning overhead kick to take the game to extra-time.
Following a quiet first 15 minutes of extra-time, Shaqiri nearly turned provider after the restart when he found Eren Derdiyok but Fabianski came off his line quickly to make another crucial save. The Switzerland striker had one final chance to score a late winner, but could not direct his shot past Fabianski as the game went to penalties. Xhaka sent his penalty wide after Stephan Lichtsteiner and Robert Lewandowski had scored from the spot, and Poland made no mistake to knock Switzerland out in the last 16.
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