Granit Xhaka is captaining Switzerland at this World Cup
When Switzerland defeated Colombia on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, Granit Xhaka knelt down and shed tears of joy.
The midfielder embodied the resilient spirit demonstrated by the Swiss team as they overcame a vociferous and dominant Colombian crowd at Vancouver Stadium on Tuesday, reaching the last eight of the tournament for the first time since 1954.
This moment also marked another chapter in Xhaka's remarkable comeback, transitioning from a criticized figure at Arsenal to a key player for both Switzerland and his current club Sunderland, while attracting interest from clubs such as Chelsea.
From booed at Arsenal to Premier League star
Xhaka is now among the most influential players in the Premier League, but seven years ago, his future in England's top flight appeared uncertain.
During his time at Arsenal, fans grew frustrated with inconsistent performances, and he was frequently subjected to boos.
These jeers culminated in October 2019 during a draw with Crystal Palace when, after being substituted, Xhaka responded by cupping his ears towards the crowd.
Following this incident, then-manager Unai Emery removed Xhaka's captaincy, and his exit from the club seemed imminent.
However, Xhaka persevered and dramatically improved after Emery was replaced by Mikel Arteta, regaining fan support through his leadership and combative play, ultimately reclaiming the captain's armband and leading Arsenal to an FA Cup victory in 2020.
"You could always hear him," Theo Walcott, Xhaka's former Arsenal teammate, previously said on Match of the Day. "No matter where you were on the training ground you could hear him speaking to someone - whether it was a staff member, a younger player, or a more experienced player, and he was like that from day one."
Following his Arsenal tenure, Xhaka transferred to Bayer Leverkusen, where he contributed to the German club's unbeaten run en route to a league and cup double.
He then returned to the Premier League last summer with newly-promoted Sunderland.
At Sunderland, Xhaka played a crucial role in not only helping the Black Cats avoid immediate relegation but also in securing a surprising seventh-place finish, earning a spot in the Europa League for the upcoming season.
"Going away to Germany really helped," Walcott added. "It really enhanced his levels of leadership."
Xhaka's performances attracted Chelsea's interest during the summer transfer window, but he chose to reaffirm his commitment to Sunderland rather than move to a club more likely to compete for Champions League qualification.
"He's the most influential signing in the North East since Kevin Keegan at Newcastle in 1982," North East football journalist Ian Murtagh told BBC Radio Newcastle. "I'm not saying necessarily the best, but in terms of influence, in terms of driving up the standards, in terms of communicating with his teammates, I think there are huge similarities between the two - even though they're 40 years apart."
How far can Switzerland and Xhaka go?
Switzerland have already exceeded expectations by reaching the quarter-finals with their performances.
Following the victory over Colombia, Swiss President Guy Parmelin congratulated the team on their historic achievement, stating they had taken the "first step towards the final."
Swiss media also praised the accomplishment, with Le Temps noting that reaching the quarter-finals would "strengthen the unity and confidence of a group that continues to improve," while the Neue Zürcher Zeitung described it as Switzerland's best World Cup performance in history.
Xhaka's contribution to this success has been significant.
After beginning the tournament with a disappointing draw against Qatar, Switzerland secured a victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina in their second group match.
The winning goal came in stoppage time, with Xhaka confidently converting a high-pressure penalty, becoming only the second Swiss player after Xherdan Shaqiri to score in three World Cups.
Switzerland's next challenge is a difficult match against Argentina.
Nonetheless, the Swiss can draw encouragement from Egypt's near upset of the reigning champions, having led 2-0 with 12 minutes remaining before Argentina scored three late goals to advance.
"I think this generation we have now is a special one," Xhaka said. "We've been waiting a long time for a group like this. We [older players] try to pass on our experience, and we have the mentality that, even as a small nation, anything is possible at this level."
When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on
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