Jamie O’Hara has claimed that former Liverpool man, Xherdan Shaqiri, was made to look like ‘Lionel Messi’ during Switzerland’s 2-1 defeat to England at Wembley on Saturday.
The former Premier League midfielder thinks Shaqiri, who left Liverpool in 2021, was having ‘too much time on the ball’.
It was the 30-year-old who played a pivotal part in his country opening the scoring in the capital.
Shaqiri, who now plays for MLS side Chicago Fire, whipped in a brilliant cross with his left foot and it was too hot to handle for Ben White, as Breel Embolo headed home.
In the end, England overturned that opener from the Swiss, but in truth, they were fortunate to walk away with the win, as O’Hara praised Shaqiri and was critical of the defending from the home side, as he told Sky Sports.
“Shaqiri is having too much time on the ball,” said O’Hara. “He is looking like Lionel Messi out there. I am sure he would (love to hear me say that).
“There’s not enough bite or enthusiasm from the England team – the back three is all over the place.
“We talk about Harry Maguire being out-of-form and John Stones picking up injuries. I am telling you now, we need them both.”
It wasn’t so long ago that Shaqiri was on Merseyside donning Liverpool colours in the Premier League and the Champions League.
But, fast forward to today, and his career has probably taken a turn that not many expected it would.
After leaving Liverpool, Shaqiri headed to Lyon, but he struggled during his brief time in Ligue 1.
And despite only turning 30 in October, he is now playing in the MLS, which is a path many supporters would have expected him to be heading down so early on in his career.
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