'A lot has been written!' – Sunderland hero Granit Xhaka fires back after ‘toxic’ World Cup claims

Granit Xhaka insisted “what counts is what happens on the pitch” after answering his critics with a goal, a pointed celebration and a commanding Switzerland performance on the World Cup stage.

The Sunderland midfielder scored a 97th-minute penalty in Switzerland’s 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday evening, before appearing to aim a clear message at those who had questioned him in recent days.

After converting from the spot, Xhaka mimicked a talking gesture with his hand - a celebration that came after criticism of his comments following Switzerland’s earlier 1-1 draw with Qatar. Xhaka, captaining his country once again, had been accused of helping create a “toxic” and “negative” atmosphere within the Switzerland camp after publicly calling for a reaction from his team-mates.

But after helping Murat Yakin’s side take a major step towards the knockout stages, the 33-year-old made clear that his focus remained on what he could influence. It came after Xhaka had publicly challenged Switzerland following their draw with Qatar, when the national side conceded a stoppage-time equaliser.

German publication BILD later reported that Xhaka’s post-game comments had not been well received by some members of the Switzerland squad, with the midfielder accused of creating a “toxic” and “negative” environment. The report claimed some team-mates felt his public criticism had been too strong, particularly after he had also spoken out following a 1-1 warm-up draw against Australia.

Despite that noise, Xhaka was once again named in Yakin’s starting XI against Bosnia and played the full match as Switzerland produced the kind of response their captain had demanded. Speaking after the win, Xhaka said: “If praise is due, then I’ll give it. If it’s bad, I’ll criticise it too. We saw a strong Switzerland. We were a unit, with and without the ball. We also made some dirty runs and won important challenges.

“We played a very good game for 90 minutes. We knew we had to perform as a unit. Yes, we have individual quality in the team. Today, those who came on made the difference. We need every single player. We also had to be mentally prepared, even if you weren’t playing from the start.”

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“People know who I am,” he said. “There are certain people who can’t handle criticism. And I’m someone who criticises myself before criticising someone else. It always comes across differently when I say something, but I don’t know any different. Switzerland can be proud to have a player with 148 caps, for the colours, for the nation, and with pure pride behind it. But maybe I need that; I do provoke a bit. What’s important to me is that the team is behind me.

“We have to perform together; everything else has never interested me. What counts is what happens on the pitch. It’s not always easy. I’d be lying if I said it was all good and no good. It hurts because there are things I don’t understand. A lot has been written. There was a big article the day before yesterday that didn’t go unnoticed. But for me, what matters is what I can influence on the pitch - I can’t influence anything else. I don’t get the feeling that anyone, even one per cent, isn’t behind me. I am here for success, and I will continue to seek it as long as I am here.”

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