One to Watch - Xherdan Shaqiri

In the last of our series of “One to watch” at the UEFA U21 Championships, we have decided to feature a prodigious talent who has all the talent to lead Switzerland to glory this summer. The Swiss have consistently made European and World Cup Tournaments. However, there is a new breed of youngsters coming through the ranks and leading the way for the next generation of Swiss footballers to have a big impact at these events. The star of the bunch is undoubtedly, Xherdan Shaqiri.

PROFILE:
Club	FC Basel
Squad No	17
Position	AM L or R
Nationality	Kosovan (Nationalised Swiss)
Age	19
Height	1.68m
Weight	69 kg
Career Record: Club International	89 apps 14 goals 11 apps 1 goal

BACKGROUND

Xherdan Shaqiri was born in Giljan, Kosovo on October 10^th 1991 to Albanian parents. His family then immigrated to Basel, Switzerland. Xherdan joined up with FC Basel and it was there where his footballing journey began. He started out in the youth teams at Basel and his talents were recognized in the U-15 Nike Cup of 2007. Peter Knäbel, technical director for the Swiss Football Association and former head of youth at Basel had this to comment on Shaqiri: "It's a pleasure to watch him play because he exudes passion for football. He is already a very competent player; technically very good but also very strong physically."

Quick and powerful, Xherdan is a handful for opposition defenders.

On January 2^nd 2009, his signed his first professional contract with FC Basel and has not looked back ever since. Playing in a team that consists of Swiss internationals like Alexander Frei and Marco Streller might have been a huge task for Shaqiri but he has fitted in seamlessly. Streller had this to comment on Shaqiri: "This little man is a phenomenon. For his age he has already come a long way, a lot further than most players. He's cheeky, has a good shot and is a fantastic dribbler."

Shaqiri is a footballer who always plays with passion and enthusiasm

Shaqiri was one of Ottmar Hitzfeld’s surprise inclusions for the 2010 World Cup. A manager of Ottmar’s pedigree would not include a player if he was not sure of his abilities. "Xherdan Shaqiri is an outstanding talent, that's why I've allowed him to be involved with the national team. He's powerful and fearless", said Hitzfeld when quizzed on his selection.

Already a full Swiss international, his experience will be invaluable for his team at the UEFA U21 Championships

PLAYING STYLE

Predominantly a left-sided winger, Xherdan’s ability lies in his trickery and pace to stretch opposition full-backs. Xherdan is extremely gifted with his left foot, as the England national team found out first hand in their Euro 2012 qualifier back in September 2010. Cutting in from the right, he unleashed a rasping drive from 30-yards out, which whistled past the hapless, Joe Hart. Tactically, Xherdan is a very mature player. He is very aware of his surroundings in matches and always knows when to pick a pass, and when the point of attack is necessary. As Zonal Marking attributed in their tactical analyses of the Switzerland v England European qualifier, the game positively changed for Switzerland with the introduction of Shaqiri: “He showed more creativity than the rest of the Switzerland side put together. He was much more direct than the other Swiss attacking players, and started to cause England problems in the full-back zone”.

If you want to form your own opinions, have a look at this skills and goals compilation of Xherdan Shaqiri and don't forget to comment: