Granit Xhaka's journey from being jeered by Arsenal fans to captaining Switzerland at the World Cup is a story of remarkable resurgence. After a difficult period at Arsenal, where he was stripped of the captaincy following a confrontation with fans, Xhaka turned his career around under manager Mikel Arteta. He reclaimed the armband and led the club to an FA Cup victory in 2020, winning back the support of the supporters with his leadership and combative displays. Following a successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen, where he helped the club achieve an unbeaten league and cup double, Xhaka returned to the Premier League with newly-promoted Sunderland. He played a pivotal role in helping the team secure a seventh-place finish and a spot in the Europa League, drawing comparisons to Kevin Keegan's influential signing at Newcastle in 1982. His performances have attracted interest from clubs like Chelsea, but he has reaffirmed his commitment to Sunderland. On the international stage, Xhaka is captaining Switzerland at the World Cup, where they have exceeded expectations by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954. After a penalty shootout victory over Colombia, Xhaka dropped to his knees and cried tears of joy, encapsulating the battling spirit of the Swiss team. Swiss President Guy Parmelin congratulated the team, calling the result a "first step towards the final."
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