Xherdan Shaqiri is cautious of the menace Cristiano Ronaldo poses as Switzerland put together to tackle Portugal within the final 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo left Manchester United by mutual consent final month after beginning in simply 4 Premier League video games this season. Nonetheless, he has been the go-to man for supervisor Fernando Santos within the nationwide crew.
The previous Actual Madrid attacker began in all three of his crew’s World Cup group-stage matches. He’s anticipated to steer the road as soon as once more when the 2016 UEFA Euros winners tackle Schweizer Nati on December 6.
To this point, he has scored simply as soon as within the event, which got here by way of a spot-kick towards Ghana in his crew’s 3-2 group stage win.
Nonetheless, Shaqiri is conscious of the harm that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is able to inflicting.
Chatting with reporters forward of the final 16 tie, the previous Liverpool winger stated (h/t GOAL):
“You can not write off Cristiano, he is without doubt one of the greatest gamers on this planet along with (Lionel) Messi. This man can rating any second, any minute, he has expertise and everybody is aware of how necessary he’s for Portugal and for his crew.”
That is prone to be the 37-year-old’s final look within the World Cup. He’ll wish to finish it in the absolute best method and win the coveted trophy for the primary time within the nation’s historical past.
The Swiss’ 1-0 win towards Cameroon and a 3-2 victory towards Serbia have been sandwiched between the loss towards Brazil by a solitary objective. They’re greater than able to holding their very own towards prime groups.
Switzerland conscious that Portugal are extra than simply Cristiano Ronaldo at this FIFA World Cup
Shaiqiri didn’t low cost the menace that Portugal pose with out Cristiano Ronaldo both. He added by way of the aforementioned supply:
“We’ve to know additionally the opposite gamers as a result of it’s not solely Ronaldo, they’ve superb gamers, younger gamers who could make an enormous distinction and we have to give actually an excellent efficiency as a result of it is knockout and something can occur within the 95-100 minutes and we’re wanting ahead to it.”
Shaqiri would be the man to be careful for when supervisor Fernando Santos’ crew takes to the pitch. The Chicago Hearth playmaker, aside from Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, is the one participant to attain within the final three World Cups.
