Inverted Winger - Wing Back - Play Maker - Winger: Xherdan Shaqiri's Total Performance Leads FC Basel to Shock Win Over Manchester United

Shaqiri constantly ran circles around United's defenders.

Playing for a club like FC Basel in the Swiss League has it perks and disadvantages, while being able to work on his ability and get used to first team football playing for a lowly European Club, Shaqiri's name doesn't often enter conversations regarding the top young players in the World today (atleast not until after players like Wilshere, Gotze, Hazard and Neymar). Shaqiri had already opened foreign eyes to his talent on the 7th of September last year when the then 19-year old scored a superb goal against England in a Euro 2012 qualifier. Shaqiri's latest performance against Manchester United in his club, FC Basel's, do or die clash, though, puts his name firmly on the map and on the wish lists of fans all over Europe. 


Left, Right, Center:


Shaqiri has made his name as an inverted winger through his young career at FC Basel. A left footed right winger, his ability to cut in and create opportunities with his creativity and dribbling ability have been his main weapon. Whats interesting is that Shaqiri has also had his fair share of matches as a wing back, therefore showing his willingness to defend, something that is rarely seen from young attacking wingers. A heat map of his performance against Manchester United shows all those characteristics:

Touches all over the pitch for Shaqiri vs United (c) ESPN Soccernet

Its obvious to see that Shaqiri never fixed himself to a certain position throughout the match, rotating between the left, right and central areas of the field while also doing his job defending his goal as FC Basel would spend large parts of the second half in their half. Shaqiri's effect on the game was a match-winning one for FC Basel, both of Basel's goals were created by the young Swiss international with crosses coming from opposite sides of the pitch:

 Cleverly picking the spaces between United midfielders:


With Shaqiri's movement came a major problem for United in terms of managing to mark the young Swiss. One reason for the problem arising was the lack of a proper defensive midfielder within the United starting XI. Though FC Basel were set up with a 4-4-2 with Shaqiri on the right, which had the potential of turning into a 4-2-3-1 with Frei occasionally dropping deep, while United played a 4-2-3-1 meaning they had an extra man in midfield, a lack of a proper defensive midfielder meant that FC Basel players were always able to find spaces within the gap between the central midfielders, Ryan Giggs and Phil Jones, and the defence. Shaqiri in particular found this an enticing opportunity. With an aggressive right wing back in Markus Steinhofer, Basel never lost their ability to attack with width down the right and Shaqiri would be given more license to occupy a central or left position and be destructive.

Phil Jones (R) and Ryan Giggs (L) heat map vs Basel (c) ESPN Soccernet

While Phil Jones is actually supposed to be a central defender, his urge to go forward and support attack (also explained here) meant that he would constantly leave spaces in behind. Having Ryan Giggs in support did not help United's cause as well since he himself is more inclined to move forward and support the attack rather than the defense. That therefore meant that Shaqiri, and his fellow players, would have ample situations to get behind either one of the defenders and be able to run at the slow central defensive partnership of Nemanja Vidic (Evans later) and Rio Ferdinand. 


Overall, it was a performance very similar to the one by Mesut Ozil against England in the 2010 World Cup Round of 16, a performance, like Shaqiri, which firmly launched Ozil into stardom. Like United, England did not have a pure defensive midfielder in central midfield to be able to track Ozil's clever positions in the center of the pitch. Ozil's influence was immense, as was Shaqiri's against United. Overall, it was a complete performance by a player who showed that he isn't just a typical inverted winger in the mold of players like Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery but rather one who is comfortable all over the field and also energetic in getting back on defensive duties. A player certainly to look out for in the future, though he was near to a move to Hamburger SV over the summer it seems that he will be tracked by clubs of much bigger status over the future.