Switzerland’s captain Granit Xhaka believes his squad is positioned to achieve their finest World Cup performance to date, expressing eagerness ahead of Saturday’s match against Qatar in Santa Clara, California.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the veteran midfielder – competing in his fourth World Cup – described his teammates as enthusiastic and “yearning for it like never before” as they prepare to face the two-time Asian champions.
“In football we always talk about tactical things, but you also have to enjoy the moment and I think this is one of the most important things in football, that you go on the pitch, that you feel free,” Xhaka stated during the media session.
The 33-year-old team leader emphasized his squad’s determination, saying: “We just want to bring our ‘A’ game tomorrow. We will want to perform for Switzerland, for our families. Tomorrow we will take the first big step. This is going to be the best World Cup.”
“We are now impatient,” he continued. “We are primed and ready. We are physically ready, we are mentally ready.”
The Swiss national team has qualified for six consecutive World Cup tournaments, an achievement that only France, Spain, England, Portugal and Germany can match among European nations.
However, their tournament history shows limited success, with five round-of-16 eliminations in their last six appearances. Their most recent quarter-final advancement dates back to 1954.
Victory against Qatar would position Switzerland at the top of Group B, ahead of Bosnia and co-hosts Canada, who finished their Friday match in a 1-1 tie.
Xhaka serves as Switzerland’s central player and holds the record as the nation’s most internationally capped athlete. He is anticipated to surpass 150 caps during this World Cup, and if selected for Saturday’s game, both he and defender Ricardo Rodriguez will establish a new national record with 13 tournament appearances.
Head coach Murat Yakin expressed confidence in his current roster’s capabilities and outlined his strategy to pressure Qatar from the opening minutes.
The coach noted that 17 squad members participated in the previous World Cup, where Switzerland was eliminated in the round of 16 following a decisive 6-1 defeat to Portugal.
“Two thirds of the players of my team have already played in a big tournament,” Yakin explained. “We learned our lessons from the past. Now, four years later, we have more experience. We do things better.”
