Swiss have developed winning mentality: Coach
KALININGRAD, RUSSIA: Switzerland’s never-say-die attitude was the key to turning around a match in which they had been pummelled by Serbia for much of the first half, Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic said.
Switzerland beat Serbia 2-1 in the World Cup Group E showdown in Kaliningrad thanks to two second-half goals from Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri after they trailed at halftime in one of the most thrilling matches so far in Russia 2018. It was fought at a blistering pace, with Serbia dominating much of the first half. But Switzerland came out storming in the second half and beat Serbia back onto the ropes.
“I honestly feel completely depleted,” Petkovic said. “It was an interesting match to say the least. We had a roller-coaster ride. They went 1-0 up and we found our balance in the second half. We wanted to fight Serbia but initially we had problems with that. What is important is we have developed this winning mentality even when we are down. We always find a reaction, and this is an important and positive characteristic of my team.”
‘NO WAY TO CELEBRATE’
Petkovic, however, added that politics and football should “never mix” after Shaqiri and Xhaka celebrated goals with political gestures. Both Shaqiri and Xhaka trace their roots to Kosovo, a former province of Serbia.
Both pointedly celebrated scoring by making a ‘double eagle’ gesture with their hands representing the Kosovo flag, viewed as a symbol of defiance.