“Was already in the air”: Shaqiri landed at the Nati after a plane breakdown

The Swiss national team starts in the Czech Republic in the Nations League. The first hurdle for Xherdan Shaqiri was getting there.

Toronto – Zurich – Prague: Xherdan Shaqiri has had a turbulent journey.

IMAGO/Icon SMI

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While the Swiss national team was preparing for the start of the Nations League for a few days in idyllic Bad Ragaz, Xherdan Shaqiri was still in action for the Chicago Fire and provided an assist in the 3-2 defeat in Toronto on Sunday night. The 30-year-old midfielder was actually supposed to arrive on Monday, but he was the last to join the team on Tuesday, directly at Zurich airport – and that after some hardship, because shortly after take-off in Chicago the plane suddenly had to, apparently due to technical problems turn around.

“Shaqiri was already in the air on the plane bound for Zurich, but the plane had to turn back and land in Chicago,” said SFV media spokesman Adrian Arnold. After less than an hour, the plane was back on the ground in Chicago.

An alternative was quickly found for Shaqiri, so he was able to take off with the national team to Prague on Tuesday evening, where the first Nations League game against the Czech Republic is due two days later.

Only Zakaria is missing

His coach Murat Yakin will have to assess whether the 102-time national player will be fresh enough again. However, the 47-year-old can practically draw on unlimited resources, only Denis Zakaria, who is recovering from a torn muscle fiber, is missing from the extended permanent staff.

So with regard to Qatar, Yakin can try a thing or two. And for players like Michel Aebischer, Eray Cömert, Fabian Frei and Jordan Lotomba, who are not sure of their place in the World Cup, it is a chance to advertise themselves.

Rodriguez would have preferred a different group

After the start on Thursday in Prague against the Czech Republic, the game in Lisbon against Portugal follows three days later, before Spain (June 9) and Portugal again (June 12) are the opponents of the SFV selection in Geneva. “It’s certainly nicer to play a World Cup or European Championship than the Nations League, but it’s a good competition,” said former Wolfsburg player Ricardo Rodriguez, adding: “I would have liked a different group because we were against Spain and Portugal have played several times before. But it’s always great to play against big teams.”

If the 29-year-old FC Torino defender is used in all six group games, he will celebrate his 100th international match against the Czech Republic in St. Gallen at the end of September. Their own expectations are already high: “We want to win the tournament,” emphasized Rodriguez, “it won’t be easy, but we can do it.”

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