Shaqiri: Facing Kosovo to be exciting

Along with friends of the Swiss National, Kosovo football player will visit his native Kosovo in the second half of the year.

“Heltetics” will have a double confrontation with Kosovo under the qualifications for Euro-2024.

And the football player born in Gjilan is looking forward to facing his parents' place.

The 31-year-old expects him and his friends to have a warm welcome to Kosovo, where his family will be present at the stadium.

Shaqiri has given an interview to British media giant “The Guardian”, who has revealed his emotions before this special match for him but also for Granit Jaka.

I play for Switzerland, but I was born in Kosovo and I love both countries. I'll give you 100 percent of myself to Switzerland. It'll be a moment of pride, of course. I will enjoy every moment playing there because my whole family will come to the stadium. It'll be very exciting for me. And, I'm sure we'll have a warm welcome”, Shaqiri is first expressed.

He already finds that after the war, he has visited Kosovo from time to time.

But there was nothing to see long ago.

Our house was burned. Things were written on the walls. Everything was dry”, remembers the postwar period Shaqiri.

He hopes to return as football for the qualifying match, in an experience that hopes to be positive for everyone.

The Shaqiri Road

Gerdan Shaqiri is one of Kosovo football players who had the chance to grow to the west.

His family had taken the road to Kurbeth to avoid the war that was beginning in the former Yugoslavia.

And the football player from Jedra of Gjilan was born in 1991.

After his first birthday, the Shaqiri family decided to make their way to Switzerland.

And for the long and difficult journey in life and career, Kosovo football player has spoken extensively about the “The Guardian”.

The movement towards the helvetic state enabled security to the Shaqiri family.

But it was by no means easy to start a life from nothing.

If you change the country, it's going to a place where you don't know anybody”, the Swiss representative says first.

I didn't come from a wealthy family. My parents worked hard. We didn't have the best time in that period. But sometimes that makes you stronger”, Shaqiri adds.

They settled in Augst, Switzerland, in 1992.

His father did physical work while his mother cleaned the building office.

They raised money to send family members who had left them behind.

Shaqiri says he was the only foreigner in school.

And football was his refuge.

You always have the opportunity to get rid of these kinds of things. Growing up as a person, being competitive, learning new cultures”, continues the confession for the “The Guardian” Shaqiri.

His talent fell off the Swiss team's scouts, FC Basel.

In his first experience in professional football, he helped the team win the Swiss champion's title three times and, meanwhile, twice won the Swiss Cup for three years.

Then, in 2012, he moved toward Bayern Munich, where he won the famous trophy triangle in 2012/13 season.

On the other hand, Shaqiri had a short experience in Inter, followed by the movement towards Stoke City.

However, this team's fall in Championship in 2018 opened the door to Liverpool, at the request of Coach Jurgen Klopp, as he played an important role in the success of the club, which won the Champions League and Premierliga.

He was especially protagonist in the collapse that “Reds” was done in Barcelona semifinals.

“Who's gonna forget what we did that Nat”, Gerdan says away.

Liverpool won with a overall score of 4:2 and then defeated Tottenham in the finals, causing Shaqiri to get the second gold medal of Champions.

Meanwhile, Shaqiri experienced a brief experience in Lyons in France, to continue later with the transatlantic transfer to the MLS league team Chicago Fire.

A record transfer for the American club, where he started becoming a protagonist.

Shaqiri says he is trying to change the club's mentality and make it a winning team.

Outside the green field, offensive footballer is enjoying life in Chicago.

He took time to see the Super Bowl final, held in Arizona, the US, writes “Gazeta Express”.

Aims to Play at World 2026

Meanwhile, Shaqiri was also very successful with the Swiss National, to which he debuted in 2010.

He has held 112 matches with “Heltimetics”, participating in four World Cups.

In 2026 the World Championship will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

“I hope I can play that tournament. We know that Americans can organize big races very well. I'm sure he'll be one of the best worlds. Maybe this isn't the top sport here, but I think people are gonna have fun and have a good time with”, Shaqiri says.

Before that, Switzerland has the focus of qualifying in Euro-2024, which will be held in Germany.

Switzerland is part of Group I together with Kosovo.

Where he was born and where he grew up.

In the World 2018, Shaqiri in his sports shoes placed both countries' flags, writes “Gazeta Express”.

At the age of 31, Shaqiri is entering his last career.

However, he is still determined to continue the course that has been started between sacrifice and determination.

We still have what we can expect and see from Shaqiri... /Express