Following the European Championship, Xherdan Shaqiri has announced his retirement from the national team. With 125 international caps, one of the most defining Swiss footballers of the last few decades is moving on. It is time to say thank you and look back at some of his finest moments.
A man for the big stages
Shaqiri made his debut for the national team in 2010 and has been part of every major tournament since. Remarkably, he scored in six consecutive major tournaments, from the 2014 World Cup to Euro 2024. Hardly any other player worldwide has achieved this.
- 2014 World Cup: Hat-trick against Honduras in Manaus
- Euro 2016: Bicycle kick against Poland
- 2018 World Cup: Winning goal against Serbia in the final minute
- Euro 2021: Brace against Turkey
- 2022 World Cup: Goal against Serbia
- Euro 2024: First-time finish into the top corner against Scotland
His career has also been extraordinary at the club level: after starting at FC Basel, he won the Champions League with both Bayern Munich and Liverpool. Most recently, he played in the MLS for Chicago Fire.
The bicycle kick from Saint-Étienne
One goal stands out. In the round of 16 at Euro 2016, Switzerland was trailing Poland 0-1. In the 82nd minute, a cross came in from the right, was cleared, and looped high into the air. Standing at the edge of the penalty area with his back to the goal, Shaqiri launched himself into the air and scored with a bicycle kick that hit the inside of the post and went in. A goal that went around the world and still ranks as one of the most beautiful in the history of the European Championship.
What makes a bicycle kick
The bicycle kick is the ultimate volley technique. For it to succeed, several things must come together:
- Take-off: The lead leg goes up first, followed by the jumping leg.
- Timing: The ball is struck above head height when it is at the highest point of its trajectory.
- Contact point: Struck with the full instep, with the ankle locked.
- Landing: The hands and forearms cushion the fall, and the back rolls over the ground.
Practising safely
You should never attempt a bicycle kick on hard ground without preparation. Start on a soft surface, ideally on a mat in a gym or on deep turf. Practise just the landing first without a ball. Once you have mastered that, have a partner gently throw the ball to you.
Even more important is a solid foundation: anyone who cannot safely master a standard volley will rarely score with a bicycle kick. Developing a feel for the contact point, ankle position, and timing comes through many repetitions of simple volleys. You can lay exactly this foundation with the VOLLEYCHAMP®: the ball is ready at a fixed height, allowing you to focus entirely on clean contact.
Thanks for everything
Shaqiri has inspired generations of young footballers in Switzerland. Anyone who saw his bicycle kick as a child likely tried to imitate it in their garden afterwards. That is his greatest legacy. We look forward with great excitement to seeing where his path leads him next at the club level.
The left foot as a trademark
What set Shaqiri apart over all these years was his left foot. Whether it was a free kick, a cross, a first-time finish, or a curling effort: he could play the ball with precision and great touch in tight spaces using his left. Additionally, he possessed a low centre of gravity that made it difficult to knock him off the ball. He is a great role model for young players in this regard: consistently perfecting one strength can make all the difference. Anyone who masters their strong foot like this will always have a solution ready, even in tight matches.
Thank you, Shaq!
