Xherdan Shaqiri expressed regret for Switzerland’s performance in their 6-1 defeat to Portugal, giving credit to their opponents while emphasizing that his team needed to improve.
Switzerland was humiliated by a Portugal team that started Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench and was eliminated from the World Cup in the last-16.
Ronaldo was substituted by Goncalo Ramos, who scored one of the game’s two goals in the first half before completing a hat trick in a raging second half.
The only time Murat Yakin’s team managed to get back into the game was when Manuel Akanji bundled in from a corner to make it 4-1.
“We are all disappointed, the whole team,” Shaqiri said afterwards. “I just want to apologise to all the people in Switzerland, because we were not at our best today.
“We lost the game already in the first half against Portugal, who are a very good team. You saw the kind of goal they can score. With all respect, we have to do better.
“We have to learn from our mistakes, and if we are behind 2-0 against Portugal, it’s always very, very difficult to come back. We just were not at our best today, from everybody.”
Yakin had altered his tactics, beginning with a three-man defense, but he did not think this was the cause of his team’s difficulties.
“We had a clear plan, we have practised it, we also had test games, the team was familiar with the system,” the Switzerland coach said. “We tried to put pressure on using the flanks, but unfortunately it didn’t work.
“Ronaldo or not, our players are able to play in every position. Yes, our opponents got a good start in the game, we saw many things not work out for us. There’s nothing we could’ve done today.”
Shaqiri showed the breadth of skill Portugal has available by not dwelling on Ronaldo’s exclusion.
“It’s the whole team,” he said. “You saw today: he was on the bench, and they scored a lot of goals, too. The quality is there from the whole team, and we saw this today.”
The winger added: “Portugal is for me a favourite and also was before the tournament. They have a good team, a quality team, and we will see in the end how far they’re going to go.
“You saw today, in the offensive, they are very good. They can go very far.”