Xhaka predicts a “completely different” face for Germany at the European Championships
Published: Friday, Jan 12th 2024, 11:41
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Swiss national team captain Granit Xhaka expects the European Championship hosts Germany to be at the top of their game this summer. "I'm not interested in what shape the DFB team is in at the moment. Germany still has a number of top-class players. And they will present a completely different face to everyone at the tournament in their own country," said Xhaka in an interview with the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA. Switzerland will play Germany in the preliminary round of the European Championship.
The midfield strategist from Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen explains Germany's current weakness with the lack of qualifying matches and the correspondingly large number of tests: "They are set as hosts, so the tension was lost somewhat in the sometimes random tests. Not all the players always pushed themselves to the limit - that's nothing out of the ordinary, it happens."
Xhaka also links his belief in the German national team to the skills of his club colleague Florian Wirtz in particular. "Enjoy this boy as long as he plays football. Wow! Özil was already a wow player for me, but Florian is a completely different caliber. We'll be raving about him for years to come," said Xhaka.
©Keystone/SDA