Xherdan Shaqiri could not save Stoke from the drop, but he breathed new life into Switzerland’s World Cup campaign.
The Swiss came from 1-0 down to beat a powerful Serbia side 2-1 in Group E.
Three Premier League players were on target, with Newcastle and Fulham loan star Aleksander Mitrovic heading the Serbs into an early lead, only for Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka to level and Shaqiri to win it.
Mitrovic knows a thing or two about playing in high-pressure matches, having helped Fulham to win the £170million play-off final against Aston Villa to reach the Premier League.
His 12 goals on loan from Newcastle proved crucial, and half a dozen international strikes for Serbia in the last year suggested he would be a threat in Russia, too.
