Granit Xhaka sets Switzerland record with 119th national team game in Euro 2024 qualifier
Israel's Neta Lavi, left, challenges Switzerland's Granit Xhaka during the Euro 2024 group I qualifying soccer match between Israel and Switzerland at the Pancho Arena in Felcsut, Hungary, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. Credit: AP/Denes Erdos
FELCSUT, Hungary — Granit Xhaka set a Switzerland record Wednesday by playing in a 119th game for the men’s national team.
Xhaka captained the team in a 1-1 draw against Israel in a European Championship qualifying game in Felcsut, Hungary. Israeli teams are playing “home” international games in neutral countries because of the war with Hamas.
Switzerland would have qualified for Euro 2024 in Germany — which would be Xhaka's sixth major finals tournament — with a win Wednesday though can still advance with a game to spare by beating Kosovo at home on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Xhaka broke the record he shared with Heinz Hermann, who made his 118th appearance for Switzerland in 1991.
Now with Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen, Xhaka was an 18-year-old midfielder with Basel when he made his Switzerland debut against England in a 2-2 draw at Wembley Stadium in June 2011.
He first moved to Germany to join Borussia Mönchengladbach then spent seven seasons with Arsenal.
Xhaka has scored 14 goals for the Swiss national team. He is two appearances ahead of long-time teammate Xherdan Shaqiri, who was on the bench on Wednesday.
Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka and Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong, from left, miss to score in front of Freiburg's goalkeeper Noah Atubolu during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and SC Freiburg in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. Credit: AP/Martin Meissner
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