Switzerland playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi amongst the only three players to have scored in each of the past three World Cups.
Shaqiri, 31, opened the scoring for the Swiss in their 3-2 victory over Serbia to book their place in the Round of 16. It was the second tournament in succession that the Chicago Fire scored against Serbia, having netted a hat-trick against Honduras in the 2014 World Cup.
It is an achievement that puts the former Liverpool attacker in good company. Ronaldo became the first player to score in five different World Cups when he netted from the penalty spot against Ghana in his nation’s opening World Cup game, with Messi the only other player to score in each of the past three tournaments.
Messi found the net in Argentina’s shock opening-match loss against Saudi Arabia and also netted in a vital victory for Lionel Scaloni’s side against a passive Mexico in their second group stage game. As with Ronaldo, Messi did not score in the third and final round of group stage action.
Shaqiri’s early goal against Serbia set the tone for a five-goal thrilling encounter. It was a match that Serbia needed to win, while a draw would have been enough for Switzerland – providing Cameroon did not defeat Brazil by two or more goals in the other group game.
Shaqiri put Switzerland in front in the 20 th minute when his low shot was deflected off Strahinja Pavlovic. The former Stoke and Liverpool forward, who was jeered loudly by Serbia fans during the warm-up, ran straight over to them in celebration, putting his finger to his mouth and pointing to his name on the back of his shirt.
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Serbia swiftly turned the game on its head as goals from Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic and centre-forward partner Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus gave them a 2-1 advantage. However, Switzerland were to equalise before the break through Breel Embolo’s close-range finish.
Nottingham Forest's midfielder Remo Freuler thumped a half-volley into the net following a superb flowing attacking move to make it 3-2 to Switzerland. While there were no more goals – there was no shortage of entertainment as Serbia pushed for an equaliser, as Cameroon defeated Brazil in the other final group game.
That ensured Switzerland progressed through to the Round of 16 as group runners-up to setup a meeting with Group H winners Portugal, who were defeated by South Korea in their final group. Group G winners Brazil will play South Korea in the knockouts.
