Shaqiri ready to spark Swiss, says not here for vacation

DUSSELDORF : Switzerland's maverick midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has dismissed doubts about his match fitness ahead of his country's opening match of Euro 2024 against Hungary in Cologne on Saturday.

The 32-year-old former Bayern Munich and Liverpool player is preparing for his seventh major tournament with the Swiss national team and is ready to play a leading role.

Coach Murat Yakin has reportedly expressed doubts about Shaqiri's ability to play back-to-back games at the Euros and the subject was raised at media conference on Thursday.

"It's almost embarrassing to have to answer this question. Every player who comes into the national team can and wants to play - over the full distance," Shaqiri told reporters.

"No one should only show up for work half the time. I don't see any problems with that. Did (Yakin) really say that?

"I gave the answer: I'm here with the national team because I want to help the team and play as much as possible. I didn't travel to the European Championships to take a vacation."

Switzerland endured a mediocre qualifying campaign as they finished a distant second behind Romania in their group, winning only four of their 10 games with five draws.

They are packed with experienced players such as Bayer Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka, however, and with Shaqiri providing his unique flair they will hope to at least equal their run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 - which included a victory over France on penalties after trailing 3-1.

Still, they will be regarded as dark horses but Shaqiri does not care, saying the Swiss are ready to deliver.

"It's my seventh finals, and each one has its story," Shaqiri, who has played in Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire since 2022, said. "I love the tension before tournaments,