Poland are spot on despite Shaqiri’s special scissor-kick
ARSENAL’S new signing Granit Xhaka and Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri both suffered heartache here as Poland reached the quarter-finals of a European Championship for the first time in their history following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Switzerland.
Xhaka, who signed for Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach before the tournament, was the only man to miss from 12 yards as Grzegorz Krychowiak converted the final kick.
It was also a bittersweet night for his team-mate Shaqiri as the Stoke player scored a goal-ofthe-tournament contender — a stunning scissor-kick from 18 yards — to equalise Jakub Blaszczykowski’s first-half opener and force extra time. And yet he ended on the losing side.
Shaqiri, named man of the match, said: ‘Of course it was beautiful but in the end we are out and so I’m disappointed. The goal pushed the team more and the fans pushed us too, but it was not enough.’
For Swansea City goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, however, it was a special afternoon. He, too, was outstanding and although he didn’t need to make a save in the shootout, his stops were crucial in a match that Poland started strongly before being pushed back for long periods.
The only disappointment for Poland was the continued goal drought of star striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored 42 times for Bayern Munich last season but is now scoreless in seven internationals.
But Polish coach Adam Nawalka isn’t worried. He said: ‘Robert is doing phenomenal work for this team. He is making space and creating chances. The most important thing is the win.’
Many predicted this as a bore draw — Poland hadn’t conceded and Switzerland had let in only one. But it turned into a day of drama with more than 40 shots and an emotional finish.
In the very first minute Yann Sommer threw the ball to former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, who had no space. As Lewandowski tried to intercept, the ball bounced back off Sommer to Arkadiusz Milik, who somehow shot over the bar.
Poland’s opener followed a strong run down the left by Kamil Grosicki, who got a bit of luck as the ball bounced off a defender before he crossed to Blaszczykowski, who nutmegged Sommer to score.
The Swiss rallied after the break, inspired by Shaqiri and substitute Breel Embolo.
And eventually Shaqiri found something very special to breach the Polish defence — a perfect waist-high scissor-kick from the edge of the area which saw the ball fly off his left boot and in off the keeper’s left-hand post.
In extra time Eren Derdiyok should have won it for the Swiss from a perfect through-ball, but was denied by Fabianski.
And so to penalties. Poland were ruthless with their spotkicks and Xhaka screwed his effort horribly wide. So the Poles stand two matches away from a European final.