The loss of Xherdan Shaqiri for Switzerland is a huge boon for Ireland but for the Swiss team, it puts them in a tricky situation. 

The Liverpool player has been the country's star man over the past few years, scoring crucial goals in the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2016. Without him, they are limited in terms of their attacking options.

Swiss journalist Robin Carrel was on Wednesday's OTB AM, to preview Switzerland's Euro 2020 qualifier against Ireland on Thursday night.

Speaking on the show he said, "If we don't win tomorrow we are in a deep problem. We have to find a way to score goals and without Shaqiri it is complicated.

"We are gifted in some places, we have a good spine in the team but Shaqiri was the only guy that could create something and now it's complicated."

The Kosovan-born winger has been a polarising figure with a lot of Swiss fans, tabloid newspapers even had a go at him during the World Cup.

Carrel explained the complex issue surrounding Xherdan Shaqiri's ethnicity.

Liverpool's Xherdan Shaqiri reacts after scoring during the penalty shoot out

Lack of game time

"He is under pressure in Switzerland as well because you know he is half Kosovan. Some populist newspapers put pressure on him all the time.

"You remember in the World Cup when he made an eagle with his hands? It was a big problem in Switzerland.

"He loves Switzerland and he loves his other country and when you are only Swiss it is difficult to understand that," the 20 minutes sportswriter said.

Despite not getting a lot of game time for Liverpool this season, Carrel said he thinks the reason Shaqiri isn't in the Swiss squad is that he is mentally tired.

"I'm pretty sure Xherdan Shaqiri came back to Liverpool and hoped to play at the start of the season because [Sadio] Mane was at the African Cup of Nations.

"He wanted to play and show that he can play for Liverpool but he didn't have a chance," he said.

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