Granit Xhaka is playing with fire again

On June 26, 2021, the NZZ asked: “Is Granit Xhaka a good boss?”

It was about Granit Xhaka doing what he wanted at the European Championships last year. He had himself tattooed shortly before the tournament and later had a hairdresser flown to the training camp in Rome. Banal things actually, but not in the pandemic with strict rules in the team bubble. The text ended like this: “The federation knew they could not afford to suspend Xhaka. And Xhaka knew it too.”

The EM was also about the very sharp criticism that Xhaka had formulated after the 0: 3 against Italy. Not enough players wanted the ball – and if you don’t want the ball, you have to consider whether you want to be on the pitch.

Xhaka never hides. He wants every ball. Goes ahead, wide back, huge self-confidence. How tall is Xhaka? Too big for Switzerland? Bigger than the team? Bigger than the association?

It seems so. At the 2022 World Cup, Xhaka also manages to be the focus of attention in the days between the third group game on Friday against Serbia and the round of 16 against Portugal on Tuesday.

Headline on page 1 of the “Sonntags-Zeitung”: “Long live Granit Xhaka!”

Headline on page 1 of “NZZ am Sonntag”: “Was that lying?”

It’s that time again: Xhaka is polarizing. He provokes. The captain, of all people, triggers debates beyond the football field and stirs up unrest.

The emotionally and politically sensitive encounter between Serbia and Switzerland on Friday evening left unpleasant images in its wake. Starring: Xhaka. For months, both associations had done a lot to ensure that there were no scenes like the 2018 World Cup with the double-headed eagle affair. The de-escalation strategy worked, before the game it was relatively relaxed, even Xhaka was calmer than ever in Qatar. Once he said: «I have matured. But of course I still have my other side inside me.”

Is Xhaka a role model for seven-year-old boys?

In the game against Serbia, Xhaka presented the other side. He grabbed his crotch, was in the middle of several pack formations. Anyone who looks at the pictures is startled by Xhaka’s gaze, by the hardness on his face. Further details of this evening remained hidden from the public for the time being. That Xhaka delivered wild verbal battles with Serbian footballers. That he should have insulted their mothers.

The question must be asked again: Can such an emotional person be a good boss? A worthy captain?

On the other hand, the Serbs constantly provoked Xhaka. They attacked him, grabbed his throat and also insulted his mother. Her fans shouted: “Kill Albanians!”

It was perhaps Xhaka’s strongest performance to get out of the wild number only with a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. He was good in the 3-2 victory of the Swiss, but not the best, he was still voted “Man of the Match”. At the press conference afterwards, he said: “It was a game with many emotions – but fair enough overall.”

If Xhaka meant that seriously, it says more about his understanding of fairness than he would like. Because, of course, what happened on the pitch was bad. As captain of the Swiss national team, Xhaka should be a role model. What do you explain to the seven-year-old son when he asks about the reasons for Xhaka’s behavior?

Xhaka’s football life seems like a never-ending struggle. This energy, this power, this class! But again and again dropouts, scandals, headlines! 14 red cards. 154 yellow cards. At his club Arsenal he was captain, bogeyman of the fans, rejected, stand-up man, fan favorite, key player. In this order.

At the latest in the game against Serbia, the old Granit Xhaka checked in at this World Cup. He doesn’t care what others think, say, mean. He’s on this mission that has accompanied him since he became U-17 World Junior Champion in 2009.

Only Xhaka formulates world championship claims for the Swiss. Only thanks to Xhaka are the Swiss so strong. Only because of Xhaka do they keep getting into difficult debates. At least the world association Fifa has not initiated an investigation against Xhaka because of the obscene gesture in the Serbia game. And not because of a political action that can only be classified as apolitical with mock naivety.

In the celebration after the win, Xhaka donned teammate Ardon Jashari’s jersey, backwards, with the name on the chest. 20-year-old Jashari is the only Swiss outfield player who has not yet played at the World Cup. But Jashari is also the name of a popular independence fighter in Kosovo against the Serbs who died in 1998.

What does Xhaka’s behavior do with the team?

Xhaka’s action was immediately celebrated in Kosovo and sharply criticized in Serbia. In Switzerland, some Xhaka want to believe the words that it was not a political message. Xhaka said Jashari is a young player who reminds him of the early days of his own career. On the other hand, everything seems very planned, videos show Jashari throwing his shirt to Xhaka. “I told him before the game that if I score a goal or we win, I’ll put his shirt on,” Xhaka said.

What are you lying about – don’t you think so?

Xhaka’s complicated relationship with Serbia has family roots. His father was once arrested and imprisoned for six months for rebelling against the state. The jersey thing is smart as hell anyway, because Xhaka can’t be proven to have any provocative intent. And the association is unconditionally behind the captain.

Long live Granit Xhaka!

You could also say: The association knows that it cannot afford to stab Xhaka in the back. And Xhaka knows it too. Once again, he failed to keep his promises. Didn’t put his sensitivities aside. Played with fire. Stand in the focus.

One wonders what that does to the team, how much understanding they have for their solo runner. Xhaka is the undisputed leader, there is no counterweight like Stephan Lichtsteiner or Valon Behrami used to be. When Remo Freuler was asked on Saturday whether Xhaka’s behavior in the team was an issue, he said that anyone asking such questions should please go out the door. Was that a sign of solidarity with the captain?

Xhaka reported on Instagram on Sunday. He wrote in English: “Those who concentrate best are relatively immune to emotional turbulence.” Hashtag: #writeyourstory.

Granit Xhaka enjoys the role of storyteller and emotional leader. He is the best Swiss footballer. Is he a good boss and a worthy captain? Perhaps the historical verdict will be made in the next few days at this World Cup.