Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka believes the England team need to be given “more credit” for their performances.
England beat Switzerland 5-3 on penalties after the match finished 1-1 at the end of extra time but Gareth Southgate’s side have been criticised throughout the tournament.
“This is a top, top team, worldwide and in Europe,” said Xhaka. “Credit to them, to every single player they have. They play in top clubs, you need to give them much more credit.”
England’s performance against Switzerland was their best of the competition to date despite going down 1-0 in the 75th minute when Breel Embolo poked the ball home from close range. England, however, responded with a brilliant solo goal from Bukayo Saka five minutes later.
Manuel Akanji’s missed penalty, however, was the only difference between the two sides.
“It’s disappointing,” Akanji said. “It feels like I let my team and the whole country down. I tried to take responsibility, I had a good feeling that I would score but I shot in the wrong corner and didn’t shoot it precisely enough. I didn’t look at Pickford, I don’t know what he was doing.”
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Akanji’s Manchester City team-mates and other England players came to console him but he could not find the words to respond. “I wish them good luck for the tournament,” he said.
Xhaka, however, is sure Akanji will use this as fuel to develop his future career.
“At first, you don’t say a lot because the player needs to be by himself to analyse first,” the former Arsenal player said. “Manuel has the personality and mindset to come back stronger than ever. I know the feeling once when I missed the only penalty against Poland.
“It is not the first or the last one he’ll miss. These things make you stronger than everyone thinks. If you don’t have this personality, you don’t play for a top club like Manchester City. He can be proud of himself, forget the penalty, if we speak about the tournament, his season with City, a lot of respect for this guy. We will be here for him everyday, to push and support him.”
Switzerland’s Euros run comes to an end after an impressive tournament in which they held hosts Germany to a 1-1 draw and knocked out Italy in the round of 16.
Meanwhile, England will face the Netherlands on Wednesday in Dortmund.
(Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)