UEFA Euro 2020: Who is Switzerland’s national football team captain?


UEFA Euro 2020: Who is Switzerland’s national football team captain?

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Granit Xhaka will lead Switzerland in Euro 2020 which begins on 11th June in Rome. Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic named the 26-man squad for the mega event and appointed Xhaka as the captain. Xhaka is the most experienced player in the squad and will play an important role in Switzerland’s campaign in Euro 2020.

Xhaka was a member of the Switzerland team that won the 2009 U-17 FIFA World Cup and made his senior debut two years later in 2011. He has represented Switzerland in 94 matches, which is the most by any player for the nation and was also a part of the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2018, and also played the UEFA Euro 2016.

The midfielder plays for Arsenal at the club level and has been one of their stalwarts. He has played a key role in Arsenal’s two Premier League titles. Xhaka has featured for the Gunners in 161 matches and has also captained them. However, after a dispute with supporters following his substitution in a game against Crystal Palace in November 2019, the Arsenal midfielder was reportedly deprived of the armband at club level.

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Granit Khaka celebrates after scoring in the qualifiers

He remains the skipper for his country, though, having taken over the armband from Stephan Lichtsteiner after the 2018 World Cup. Switzerland made it to the round of 16 in that event, as they had in the previous two tournaments in 2006 and 2014.

The Red Cross also failed to go past the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, losing to Poland in a penalty shoot-out to miss out on a spot in the final four. Xhaka will give it his all to ensure that Switzerland has a successful campaign and, at the least, make it to the final eight of the Euros.

Switzerland’s campaign in Euro 2020

 Switzerland had reached the round of 16 in both Euro 2016 and FIFA World Cup

Switzerland made it to Euro 2020 with ease finishing top of the qualifiers table with five victories from eight games ahead of Denmark. Ireland, Georgia, and Gibraltar.

They are drawn in Group A and will start their campaign against Wales on 12th June in Baku followed by a clash against Italy on 16th June in Rome and will be back in Baku for their final group stage match against Turkey on 20th June.

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