Not a common sight in football - Granit Xhaka seen swigging from a bottle of Coca Cola during the France v Switzerland match
(Picture: ITV)Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka was captured chugging a bottle of Coca Cola before his team knocked out favourites France in a shocking penalty shootout.
After playing for 120 minutes on the pitch and coming back from 3-1 down, it’s no wonder the Arsenal midfielder needed a sugar boost.
Coca Cola’s PR team are probably grinning from ear to ear as a result of Xhaka’s endorsement.
Since the brand didn’t exactly get a ringing endorsement from Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, after he recently made headlines for snubbing the beverage during a Euro 2020 press conference.
Instead, the striker told everyone to “drink water” and Coca Cola’s share price tumbled after his comments.
After this, the drink became the meme of the tournament.
With Italy’s Manuel Locatelli following in Ronald’s steps, and Scotland’s John McGinn jokingly asking “Nae Coke?” when he arrived at his press conference.
So, of course it had to have been a bottle of Coke that replenished the Switzerland captain just before his team won 5-4 on penalties after France’s Kylian Mbappe missed his spot kick to knock France out of the tournament.
The meme has officially come full circle.
Though we’re not sure if Xhaka was poking fun at Ronaldo’s now infamous snub, or if he was actually craving the fizzy drink during the tense game.
People flocked to Twitter to joke about Xhaka knocking back the beverage.
Xhaka took down a bottle of Coke right before penalties 😂 pic.twitter.com/skVT6uyqts
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 28, 2021
Great to see Xhaka horsing the bottle of Coke into him like a hungover Sunday League player pic.twitter.com/NGagqvJvl8
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) June 28, 2021
You’re telling me Xhaka played 120 minutes, and then proceeded to crush a Coke while motivating his teammates to bury France in PK’s?!?
— Neb (@BenVonheeder) June 29, 2021
What a legend. pic.twitter.com/JB0uPVQwQB
Xhaka sinking a bottle of Coke before PK’s like a proper Sunday league player in a Euro round of 16 match 😂 #FRA #SUI pic.twitter.com/DaIiEKINCH
— Brady Reid (@BradyReid_) June 28, 2021
Meanwhile, some joked about the reaction of Coca Cola’s PR team to Xhaka’s endorsement.
Coca-Cola headquarters after seeing Xhaka drinking coke. pic.twitter.com/QHNRJfSuw6
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) June 28, 2021
Coca-Cola headquarters after seeing Xhaka drinking coke pic.twitter.com/AvJ1688P9D
— Football Trolls (@FootballlTrolls) June 29, 2021
While others quipped that Ronaldo should have followed Xhaka’s approach by drinking Coke and that Portugal might not have then been knocked by Belgium on Sunday if he had.
Only if Cristiano Ronaldo had drank coke, he would still be in the Euros. Look at Xhaka gulping very chilled coke. 🤣#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/VuBwuEHG9R
— Bolarinwa Olajide (@iambolar) June 28, 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo watching Xhaka drinking a coke. #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/rXVTRgzT9J
— Kevin Beastly (@ka92010rock) June 28, 2021
Ronaldo my have ice in his veins, but Xhaka has coke in his veins! pic.twitter.com/s6OuBEk9I9
— Don Kimbo (@RealArsenal3) June 28, 2021
Xhaka sticking it to Ronaldo opening a bottle of Coke 😂🤟🏼 Get that sponsorship #Euro2020
— Jaime (@jaimeacuna13) June 28, 2021
Xhaka was praised for his performance and was awarded “Man of the Match” for his long ball passes helped his team to eventually equalise at 3-3 and go into extra time.
It’s understandable that the footballer was in a jovial during the press conference after the historic win.
“Sorry to say this word, but it’s f***ing amazing, man,” he told journalists.
“We can make score the 2-0 and finish the game but the penalty we missed breaks us a little bit.
“After 3-1, to come back like this against France, to show big character, this team is f***ing amazing, man
Though it looks like we won’t be seeing a Xhaka-Cola Cola collab in Switzerland’s quarter final match against Spain on Friday.
This is because the captain has to miss the match after picking up two yellow cards during the course of the tournament.
