Granit Xhaka vows to ‘smash’ Arsenal team-mates Jesus and Martinelli when Switzerland face Brazil at World Cup
GRANIT XHAKA aims to keep a World Cup promise on Monday by “smashing” the living daylights out of two pals.
Switzerland’s uncompromising captain made the vow to Arsenal team-mates Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli before leaving for Qatar.
The two Brazilians face Xhaka in Group G with both countries eager for a win that will confirm qualification to the Last 16.
Xhaka said: “We were joking before the World Cup to come here and of course, it is always good if you have team-mates opposite your, but we are professional footballers and for 90 minutes.
“I told Gabby Martinelli and Gabby Jesus if you are running one against one against our goalkeeper I will smash you!
“It doesn’t matter that we are playing in the same team. This is the Word Cup. You play for your own team, you play for your own country and you want to win.
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“Of course, they were worried. They know me. If I smash you, it will be very very hard.”
Switzerland secured a 1-0 win in their opening game against Cameroon but boss Murat Yakin admitted afterwards it was a below par performance.
Xhaka warned his Swiss pals there can be no room for errors against the five-time world champions.
He said: “The first game is important. It gives you a lot of confidence.
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“If you see the next two games, they will be more difficult than Cameroon, on paper.
“We enjoy the three points and now we are focused on Brazil.
“Of course we will have to be much more careful against Brazil than we were against Cameroon. If you lose the ball against Brazil you pay for it. They have great, great quality.”
The two countries met in the last World Cup and drew 1-1.
Xhaka said: “I expect a different game. If you see the Brazil players, they can put out three teams.
“They have the quality, they have big talents that are coming through, but they know us as well, that it is not always easy to play against us and we want to give them as difficult a game as possible and hopefully we can turn something around for us.”
And Xhaka will tell the Swiss to be wary of revitalised Jesus who has recaptured his form and enjoyment of football since leaving Manchester City for Arsenal in the summer.
Xhaka said: “Of course when you see him every day he makes a big big difference. The guy is unbelievable.First of all he is a lovely person, very humble and the quality he has is unbelievable.
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“Of course, with Man City he was playing and sometimes not playing, you are not in this rhythm, but you can see with us he is making the difference and that is why we are where we are at the moment.
“Brazil have world class players. Big, big quality, the favourites in the tournament and the favourites in our group but it is one game. Anything can happen.”