Liverpool target defends Switzerland’s World Cup performance

Xherdan Shaqiri has defended Switzerland’s performance in a 5-2 loss to France in World Cup on Friday night.

Les Bleus stormed into a 5-0 lead in the Group E clash before late goals from Blerim Dzemaili and Granit Xhaka added a dash of respectability to the score-line.

And Bayern Munich midfielder Shaqiri, who is being linked with a move to Liverpool in the summer transfer window, hit back at Switzerland’s criticis.

“We have enough players in the national team that can be decisive. Not just me,” Shaqiri told Blick. “It’s about the team. Always.

“I feel very comfortable in the team. What bothers me is that I am criticised much harder when something is not working. I’m exactly the same as everyone else.

“We have just been totally run over by the French. In the second half we tried to play football. I think to some extent we succeeded.

“It’s certainly good for morale that we scored two goals.

“It wasn’t easy, we had to chase the ball a lot. We were always a step too late. The performance of the whole team was not optimal.

“Even though I have not scored a goal or made an assist (in the first two games), I am always working.

“I have created opportunities. For me, the most important thing is that we play well as a team. We did not succeed in this against France.”