Sunday 26 June 2016 00:43, UK
Xherdan Shaqiri has backed Arsenal-bound Granit Xhaka to recover from the penalty miss that saw Switzerland exit Euro 2016.
Xhaka, who will join the Gunners after the tournament, blasted Switzerland's second penalty wide while Poland nailed all five kicks to seal a 5-4 shoot-out win and reach the quarter-finals.
"He's disappointed, but that's football and mistakes can happen," said Stoke winger Shaqiri, who forced extra-time in the last-16 with a spectacular scissor-kick in the 82nd minute.
"I think Granit is very professional and he can cope with it. He will stand up again."
Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic said he felt for Xhaka - but that the defeat hurt more.
"I'm very sad for him, but it's not just about him," Petkovic said. "It's disappointing as the Swiss players gave everything. We weren't clinical enough and as a result of the lottery of the penalty shoot-out, if you miss one, it can be crucial."
Shaqiri was named man of the match after his stunning equaliser but said personal glory mattered little after another knockout defeat, two years after they bowed out at the same stage against Argentina at the World Cup.
He said: "What can I say, we're very disappointed, we could have achieved something very big. We had our chances, but we have to learn from this.
"We had the same situation against Argentina but we're proud of the way we played. We gave 150 per cent and we would have deserved to advance, but penalties are 50/50 and that's football."
Poland coach Adam Nawalka was thrilled his players' penalty practice paid off.
"Preparing for this match, we tried to improve our penalties, and we knew they'd be taken in the best possible way," Nawalka said.
"We knew the five players to take them. Emotions were running high so we had to check at the end of extra time if the players still wanted to take them. Everyone had to confirm, and all five of them did."
