Xhaka: We Saw a Strong Switzerland

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka expressed immense satisfaction following his team's dominant 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in their second Group A World Cup match. He was delighted that his squad showcased their capabilities and delivered a strong performance.

“If praise is due, I’ll give it. If things are bad, I’ll criticize. We saw a strong Switzerland today. We were a cohesive unit – with and without the ball. We put in a lot of hard work and won crucial duels. We played a very good match for 90 minutes. We knew we had to perform as one. Yes, we have individual quality in the team. Today, those who came off the bench made the difference. We need every single player. We also had to be mentally prepared, even if you weren't starting from the beginning.”

He also addressed the criticism he has faced in recent days.

“People know who I am. There are certain individuals who can't handle criticism. But I am someone who criticizes myself before criticizing anyone else. It’s always perceived differently when I say something – but I don't know any other way. Switzerland can be proud to have a player with 148 caps for the national team, playing for the colors, for the nation, and with pure pride behind him. But perhaps I need this; to provoke myself a little. What’s important to me is that the team is behind me. We have to perform together; everything else has never interested me. What matters is what happens on the pitch. It’s not always easy. I’d be lying if I said everything has been smooth and problem-free. It hurts because there are things I don't understand. A lot has been written. There was a big article the day before yesterday that didn't go unnoticed. But for me, what's important is what I can influence on the pitch – I can't influence anything else. I don't feel that anyone, not even by one percent, isn't behind me. I am here for success and I will continue to pursue it as long as I am with the team,” the veteran added.