Not fit enough? Shaqiri silences his critics with this dream goal

Xherdan Shaqiri spent 90 minutes on the bench in the opening game against Hungary. Hardly anyone missed him in the 3:1 win. Against Scotland, however, he was allowed to start and showed how valuable he still is.

Is Shaqiri fit enough for the starting eleven? This question was already preoccupying the nation before the European Championship opener against Hungary. The debate about his fitness was "embarrassing", said Shaqiri, who was injured in pride. But then he sat on the bench for 90 minutes against Hungary - and hardly anyone missed him. After the 3:1 victory, Murat Yakin, the national team coach celebrated for his surprises, said: "It was not the time to bring Shaqiri on."

Ahead of the Scotland game, there is renewed speculation as to whether Shaqiri will play or whether he will once again sit on the bench. And lo and behold, Yakin rotated the magic foot into the starting eleven, where the 32-year-old once again showed that he is still worth his weight in gold for the national team. After Fabian Schär's own goal, it was Shaq who made it 1:1 in the 26th minute with a fantastic shot, silencing his critics. As so often at major tournaments, Switzerland can rely on Shaqiri's genius. He is the only player in the world to have scored at the last three European and World Cups. Cristiano Ronaldo is the only one who could follow suit should he also score in Germany.