"This guy randomly appears every 2 years in international tournaments" - Fans react as Xherdan Shaqiri scores for Switzerland in Euro 2024 clash

Fans reacted as Xherdan Shaqiri netted a fabulous equalizer for Switzerland against Scotland in their second Euro 2024 game on Wednesday (June 19) in Cologne. The Scots had taken a 13th-minute lead.

Scotland opened the scoring through Scott McTominay, whose cross-shot was turned in by a Swiss defender. However, Switzerland responded swiftly, pouncing on a loose ball just outside the Scottish box to fire in an unstoppable curler.

The 32-year-old midfielder - who plies his club football with MLS side Chicago Fire - has two goals and an assist in 12 MLS games in 2024. However, he has been in sublime recent form for the Swiss.

Having scored in the friendly wins over the Republic of Ireland and Romania earlier this month, Shaqiri - who didn't come off the bench in the 3-1 win over Hungary - made his start count with a sumptuous strike.

Fans went ga ga, with one tweeting:

"A player the street will never forget"

Another chimed in:

"I swear this guy randomly appears every 2 years in international tournaments and apart from that, nobody knows anything about his footballing form."

Similar reactions followed, with AceGabbana tweeting:

"Shaqiri has always been that guy"

The European Lad said:

"Big player"

Muller Matambo posted:

"Bro always show up for his nation"

Indeed, Shaqiri does indeed 'show up' for his nation: 32 goals and 34 assists in 124 games across competitions, following his Euro 2024 strike.

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How has Xherdan Shaqiri fared in major tournaments for Euro 2024 contenders Switzerland?

Xherdan Shaqiri at Euro 2024

Xherdan Shaqiri has a stellar record for Switzerland - as is evident in his aforementioned record for his nation since his debut in a 3-1 friendly home loss to Uruguay in March 2010.

On his major tournament debut at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, a teenage Shaqiri came on for 12 minutes in the goalless draw with Honduras.

With the Swiss failing to qualify for Euro 2012, Shaqiri's next major international tournament was the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He missed only three minutes across four games, scoring three goals, with all three coming in a 3-0 win over Honduras before a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Argentina.

At Euro 2016, Shaqiri provided a goal and an assist in four games as the Swiss bowed out in the Round of 16 following a shootout loss to Switzerland.

He was once again among the scorers at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, providing a goal and an assist in four games as Switzerland lost 1-0 in the Round of 16 to Sweden.

Shaqiri had a brilliant Euro 2020 campaign, striking three times and bagging an assist in five games before a shootout defeat to Spain in the quarterfinals. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he had a goal and an assist in three games as the Swiss lost 6-1 to Portugal in the Round of 16.

Xherdan Shaqiri is now up and running at Euro 2024 as Switzerland drew 1-1 with Scotland.