Forget about snakes, the real problem in the Switzerland dressing room appears to be Granit Xhaka.
The location of the Swiss World Cup training camp has been criticised over rattlesnakes, but now a bombshell report claims captain Xhaka is actually causing more issues.
Leading Swiss outlet Blick say that several sources told the outlet that players within the national team are reportedly unsettled by his media statements and feel uncomfortable at the training camp.
Swiss players call out Xhaka
Xhaka’s comments have been criticised for being ‘too negative, which is affecting the team’s morale’ and the atmosphere is ‘becoming toxic’
Switzerland drew to Australia in their final friendly before the tournament and Xhaka laid into his teammates post-match.
There were then similar scenes when they began their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw to Qatar.
Speaking after the Australia match, he said, among other things: “You can’t play like that, otherwise we will return home after three games.”
Later, in a press conference, he added: “I don’t think you really want to see me angry.
“I wasn’t really angry, I wasn’t satisfied with the performance – including my own – and I wasn’t satisfied with the result either.
“We already talked about it internally and nobody questioned why I spoke the way I did.”
Xhaka’s performances also questioned
What makes matters worse for Xhaka is that Blick say he’s not leading by example, playing poorly in both of those draws.
They explain: “Against both Australia and especially against Qatar, Xhaka lacked his usual influence as the team’s playmaker.
“One could even argue that his performance in the opening match against Qatar was among the weakest of the current cycle and the most unremarkable in a national team shirt since the Nations League match in Serbia in October 2024.”
They further question if Xhaka has too much power in the team after he was given various new leadership roles by head coach Murat Yakin.
They comment: “This worked well for a long time, very well indeed.
“Xhaka’s influence within the federation also grew steadily over the years, which raises the question of whether there is anyone left at the Swiss Football Association who can rein him in in the current situation. There hasn’t been a counterweight for a long time.”
Xhaka also came in for criticism for his Qatar performance from former international and current columnist Kubilay Turkyilmaz.
“Granit Xhaka was passive, played a lot of short passes and almost always slowed down the game,” he wrote.
“He can do much better. He can add speed. He can create space for the attackers with his passes.
“Breel Embolo was also passive. When he is on the move, when he is active, he is a great striker.
“When he is not, he is average. Against Qatar, he did not do enough.”
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