Football: Xherdan Shaqiri must he return to the Swiss team?

ThoseFor the good of the country –Does Shaqiri have a moral duty to return to the Swiss team?

Impressive with Basel, Xherdan Shaqiri could be again with Switzerland if he came out of his international retirement. It would even be a necessity.

Posted: 04.05.2025, 08h04

To float forever in the glorious sky of geniuses of Swiss football, the image of Xher is this untouchable icon, this mystical painting that does not suffer criticism. But, returned to Switzerland last summer of his exile without success in Chicago, where he earned much more money than matches, questions enveloped the Basel, who found the fold.

He carefully swept them away, torn. In Basel, Shaqiri is the best player in the Swiss championship, the most decisive and, of course, other questions come to throw themselves at his feet, the main one: should Shaqiri return to the Swiss team?

Since the summer of 2024, we have known his decision: He announced his international retirement. The day after the euro, a pinch in the heart. From 2010 to 2024, Shaqiri, it is 14 years of exploits, concentrated moreover during the final stages of major tournaments. It is, as a farewell, this striking jewel against Scotland, for an equalization 1-1, is therefore perfection. It is also this corner in the quarterfinals, against England, which licks the latte.

As always, we only remember the best and it also applies to this last dance last summer. But against the Scottish, Shaqiri it is Two passes to the left, two on the right, eleven behind, zero dribble, the figures are ruthless; It is a Swiss who, with him in holder, cannot press effectively; It is also a Switzerland who uses it as a joker against the English (and it almost worked), but who plays without him apart from this match against Scotland, the one where Shaqiri shines for his goal, the one who will however be the least successful Swiss performance of the Euro, paradoxically.

So we had forgotten, despite this gesture, despite his gestures, that Xherdan Shaqiri could miss Switzerland. Until he returned to play in the country. To see what he is capable of doing in Super League, a seizure and the mirage that floats again, between illusion and reality: can it do this internationally? Again? In other words: even if he withdrew, even if he leaves the door of the closed selection, should the ASF not try to reopen it with a little shoulder to convince him to come back? And first of all, what is this way to withdraw from a national team when you are still active?

The return of Xherdan Shaqiri, a moral question?

In absolute terms, when this international retirement mode has become more and more frequent, at the beginning of this century, certain selectors did not deprive themselves to say the substance of their thoughts. Like Aimé Jacquet, world champion in 1998 with France. When the Blues saw Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu, Claude Makelele or Zinédine Zidane self -stretching the Blues in 2004, before some returned to their decision, Jacquet, who was no longer in business, had nevertheless fulminated.

He had said to “France Football”, August 31, 2004: “I do not want to use too strong words against them. Simply, a framework does not go like that, players of this dimension have a duty towards their selection and not only with regard to their club. ”

So. We are there with Xherdan Shaqiri. Surrounded by questions. Should he return to the Swiss team? Is it morally held if Switzerland needs him? It shines brightly in a relatively low super league, but is it capable of the same lights internationally? Does Murat Yakin want him in selection? What would be his role: holder, with a system built for him, as in Basel, or luxury joker?

At ASF, the question remains in the air

At ASF, above all, you have to take the pulse. Know if Pierluigi Tami, the director of national teams, and Murat Yakin, the coach, may have the idea of ​​convincing Xherdan Shaqiri for a return to selection.

If necessary, it would not be for the two friendly matches of June (Basel plays a cup final on 1^is June). But for the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which start in September.

ASF response, via Tami: “We constantly observe all the players who may interest the Swiss team, he says. At first, the reflections on the orientations to be given to these observations remain an internal subject. ”

GOOD. Translation: We are not talking about Shaqiri namely. This is undoubtedly a subject of discussion, but it would first be necessary, possibly, to try to discreet it in all discretion with the player, before mentioning anything publicly.

A map in the ASF’s sleeve, if applicable: Davide Calla, appointed assistant to Murat Yakin, is also that of Celestini in Basel. And he is therefore in daily contact with Shaqiri…

“Frankly, why not try?”

Léonard Thurre, ex-international attacker, is a consultant on RTS for the Swiss team. His gaze on the Shaqiri case? “Why, when you are competitive and still in club activity, should you be able to withdraw from your national team?” This is the annoying question.

“No, we shouldn’t be able to do it,” continues Léonard Thurre. And, inevitably, when we see what Shaqiri is able to offer with Basel, it adds water to the mill. I am a fan of this player, for what he can get on a field. And there he demonstrates that he is still eligible. To be holder in international matches? I don’t know, I think he must be lucid, he will be 34 years old in October. But he seems to be less injured than before and in great confidence. Frankly, why not try to make him change his mind. ”

For Constantine, it is a question of survival

Christian Constantin, president of the FC Sion, has a well -sized opinion on the issue. “In recent times, we do not have a large team of Switzerland, I even think that we are currently behind those of Kuhn, Hitzfeld and Petkovic, as it stands,” he says. We don’t have much quality in the field, so yes, you have to go see Shaqiri, so that it comes back. My son Barth knows him very well, they are friends, if necessary, he can help. ”

So, would Shaqiri’s return with Switzerland be a question of survival for the selection? “Yes. Who else has to do what he does on the ground?, Wonders Constantin. Person! And then for once, he will arrive with playing time in the legs, not like when he was in Bayern or Liverpool, where he put his buttocks on the bench. So yes, it would be good for him to come back to selection. And that he holds it. “

Servette’s challenge against Shaqiri Basel FC

This Sunday, Xherdan Shaqiri will be on the ground, with all the Basel Armada and, opposite, there will be Servette. Or: the leader, who is six points ahead, who receives the second in the ranking.

For this Servette who plays there his last chance to fight for the title to the end, there is the obligation of a victory. Because a draw would always leave the Baseois far ahead, at six points, because a defeat, of course, would prohibit all hope, with nine points late then, four matches of the term.

On the ground, it will take courage: Lausanne has shown the example in the Swiss Cup, to shake up the Rhineans. If Basel is scary in front, behind there are flaws. And Servette has individuals to exploit them, from Stevanovic to Kutesa, via Cognat, Antunes, Crivelli or Ndoye.

But in any case, garnet will need perfection everywhere: in front, in the middle and behind. On the bench too: it takes an ambitious, daring Thomas Häberli for this final round. To check Sunday at Parc Saint-Jacques.

Daniel Visentini is a journalist for the Geneva gallery, 24 hours and in the morning on Sunday. For seven years he was the head of the Sports section of the Genève Tribune. He closely follows football news, including that of Servette FC and the Swiss team.More info

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