Xherdan Shaqiri and his appointed successor within the Nati, Dan Ndoye. Image: KEYSTONE
Without Xherdan Shaqiri (international retirement), the Swiss team lacks genius and scorers. Dan Ndoye is the best player to rectify this. From this Saturday evening in the League of Nations in Serbia (8:45 pm)?
12.10.2024, 11:5912.10.2024, 12:33
Sebastian Wendel / ch media
What Nati moments will still be unforgettable in ten years? Xherdan Shaqiri’s stunning long-range shot at Euro 2024 against Scotland is still fresh in people’s minds. And then, of course, save Yann Sommer on Kylian Mbappé’s shot on goal in 2021.
The rest? Shaqiri, Shaqiri and more Shaqiri. His last-minute winning goal against Serbia at the 2018 World Cup, his impressive brace against Poland at Euro 2016 and his hat-trick against Honduras in the decisive group game at the 2014 World Cup.
Anthology of moments in the history of the Nati. image: epa
The list may be incomplete, but the point remains the same:
it’s just a small circle of players who created lasting memories. And which is the origin of the regular cultivation of the Nati. Excellent players.
Sommer and Shaqiri were part of it, but have now retired from the national team since last Euro’s quarter-final, which they lost to England. So this question remains: who will do good swiss day now?
And lack of genius and scorers
Civil servant and long-time Swiss football watcher Peter Knäbel tells CH Media which group watson:
“In the end, it is also the exceptional talents that make possible regular participation in tournaments and benefits like the Euro quarter-finals”
In other words, a small country like Switzerland, where top players don’t fall from the sky like in France for example, in the end there is little chance to compete with the big ones as a team, without moments of individual glory exceptional. .
Shaqiri’s talent has been sorely missed by the Nati. Image: KEYSTONE
In goals, the void left by Sommer’s departure has already been filled by Gregor Kobel. But who will succeed Xherdan Shaqiri? There is no left leg like his leg in the Nati anymore.
There is no one at the moment the cunning, genius and nerve with which Shaqiri decided games out of thin air.
There is also no regular scorer who can make up for the lack of creativity with his composure when it comes down to it.
Proof? List of players selected for the League of Nations games against Serbia and Denmark he has a total of 736 international caps, with just 69 goals. The current top scorer is center forward Breel Embolo, who has needed 70 games to score 15 goals.
The pet from the community
Dan Ndoye also has this label of ineffectiveness in front of a goal that sticks to him.
Despite that, 23-year-old Vaudois is the Nati player in which the “Shaqiri gene” is dormant.
Since he did last summer at the Euro, he inspired fantasies. The Bologna striker is quick, lively, skilful, courageous and has that little something that endears him to the crowd. He invited a supporter to a Euro match whose glasses he broke on a missed shot.
Ndoye’s unusual celebration after his goal against Germany at the Euros.Image: keystone
And in Bologna, where he started his second season, Dan Ndoye is already the leader of the club: his face is always highlighted on social networks or during the presentation of the new jersey.
Currently his only goal with the Nati was scored by the Vaudois during the last Euro group game against Germany (1-1). A goal worthy of the “highest level”, as German coach Julian Nagelsmann pointed out. And if he had succumbed to the advances of interested clubs last summer, Ndoye might be playing for Manchester United today. A journey worthy of Xherdan Shaqiri.
But Dan Ndoye remains modest:
“I have to get better at finishing, and I will do that through hard work. Another year in Bologna is the best thing for my career.”
He is also guaranteed playing time there under new coach Vincenzo Italiano. He needs it to be able to meet the increased expectations for him in Nati’s jersey.
In Bologna, Ndoye (left) enjoys a lot of playing time.Image: keystone
Absent during the defeats against Denmark and Spain at the beginning of September due to injury, Dan Ndoye is now back and he must help correct the situation in this League of Nations, also because the – negative atmosphere around the national team.
And the Vaudois are ready to take on this challenge. “The pressure? No, what motivates me is the joy of playing football,” he smiled.
Translation and adaptation into French: Yoann Graber
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