Granit Xhaka has been a talismanic figure in midfield wherever he has played, as captain at Arsenal and for Xabi Alonso's domestically unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen this season.

But after Switzerland's dramatic penalty shootout loss to England, he revealed one of his most heroic feats on a football pitch. 

The Swiss captain admitted after the match that he had played the entire 120 minutes with a torn abductor muscle in his left thigh which stopped him from making long passes and even shooting at Jordan Pickford's goal. 

'I was diagnosed with a torn muscle fibre in my adductors on Monday. But I wanted to be there for the team and grit my teeth. I couldn't hit long balls or shoot properly at the goal during the game. But otherwise it was fine.

 'I went beyond my limits again today,' he added.

Swiss captain Xhaka played 120 minutes against England with a torn adductor muscle in his left leg and was unable to shoot at goal, play long passes or take a penalty in the shootout 

The 31-year-old former Arsenal captain enjoyed a successful year at Bayer Leverkusen, winning both the Bundesliga and German cup on an incredible unbeaten run under head coach Xabi Alonso. 

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But Xhaka's hopes of claiming European glory were stopped in their tracks yesterday evening in Dusseldorf as his side were beaten 5-3 on penalties. 

For Xhaka, who had battled through 120 minutes of pain with a torn muscle, it was a tough one to take.

'There is nothing more brutal than being knocked out after penalties. But we did everything we could. 

'I am proud of the team and how we brought joy to the people of Switzerland and Germany. That was always our goal. In the end, the English had the better nerves.'

Central to the Swiss defeat was Xhaka's former Arsenal team-mate and player of the match Bukayo Saka. Saka netted a superb equaliser in the 80th minute before overcoming his 2020 Euros penalty nightmare to score one of the decisive spot-kicks in a perfect shootout for the Three Lions.

After the match, Xhaka was pictured congratulating his former teammate Saka. It was a moment of real class which Saka appreciated. 

'I think he [Xhaka] is an amazing player, an amazing person – the humility he showed after the game to come and shake our hands says it all,' said Saka.

Xhaka's Switzerland team impressed throughout the tournament in Germany, beating Italy comfortably in the round of 16 and securing a 1-1 draw in the group-stage with the hosts. 

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But despite Switzerland taking the lead in the 75th minute through Breel Embolo, England secured a semi-final spot after Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji missed the crucial penalty with Xhaka not taking a spot-kick likely due to his injury. 

 Xhaka insisted he was proud of his team and Akanji despite the penalty miss and that Switzerland would have had the quality to compete in the semi-finals. 

'Someone has to get caught in the penalty shootout. I've been in that position myself. That only makes him [Akanji] stronger. Chin up! I'm proud of this boy. 

'It is difficult to find the right words now. I don't think you can say anything bad about anyone in the team or the staff. It doesn't matter whether it was fair or unfair. Everyone gave their all and we can be proud. We didn't have luck on our side in the penalty shootout. 

'We have to accept it. Of course it hurts to lose like that. It's brutal. We would have had the quality for the semi-finals.'