- Dave Donnelly
- Sat, Jun 11 2016
Report from Dave Donnelly at The Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Fabian Schar's fifth-minute header gave Switzerland a 1-0 win over ten man Albania on an emotional day in Lens.
Much had been made in the lead-up to the fixture of the unique ties between Albania and Switzerland, where over 300,000 Albanian and Kosovan nationals have made their home in the past 25 years.
The complex nature of the fixture can be summed up by the numbers: Switzerland's entire midfield five is originally Albanian-eligible, while Shaqiri and Behrami were both born in Kosovo.
And Several of the Albanian squad, including captain Lorik Cana, were born or partly-raised in Switzerland, which boasts the largest Albanian ex-pat community in Europe.
Behrami was roundly booed throughout by the Albania fans – a result of comments he made about his feelings towards Kosovo, while the Swiss fans sang his name to a predictable response.
It was in stark contrast to the reverence poured on other members of the Swiss team – Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka's emergence before the match was greeted with celebration by the red hoard.
Traditionally, Kosovan fans have lent their support to Albania in the past, but this hasn't always resulted in Kosovan-born players being selected for the national team, so many wound up playing with other nations.
This changed with the installation of Italian Giovanni de Biasi as coach, and the team's upturn in fortune (they hadn't ever finished above fourth in a qualifying group before) has been underpinned by a core of players born in Kosovo, or of Kosovan extraction.
With Kosovo's recent admission to UEFA and FIFA, it is very possible the great core of those players will take up the option of switching nationalities, so Albania's first-ever appearance at a major finals may well be their last for some time.
The early exchanges saw the major pre-match talking point – the first meeting of two brothers on opposite sides at the Euros – come to life as Granit and Taulant Xhaka tussled for a loose ball within seconds of kick-off.
With all the emotion of the occasion, it was important that Albania survived the early stages with the score-line intact.
However, Granit Xhaka and Shaqiri had already picked holes in the red backline before a simple corner saw centre-half Fabian Schar rise unopposed to head the Swiss into a fifth-minute lead.
Not used to taking the game to the opposition – they scored just three goals at home in qualifying, and seven in total – the concession of an early goal could have rocked Albania.
But they continued to press in the right areas of the pitch and were brave in possession, although they were conservative in committing players in and around the box, preferring to retain possession.
Their high-pressing brought mistakes out of the Swiss rear-guard, in particular Johan Djourou, who was having trouble dealing with Sadiku's relentless harrying.
However, when they did create attacking opportunities – through Armando Sadiku and Taulant Xhaka – they were indecisive in front of goal.
Sadiku, in particular, will rue his miss after Elseid Hysaj split the Swiss defence with a pinpoint pass and he raced through on goal, but his effort was low and weakly-struck close to Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Moments later, the Albanians found them a goal and a man in arrears as captain Lorik Cana – booked early on for a crunching tackle from behind – was shown a second yellow card.
The Nantes defender slipped while attempting to deal with the threat of Haris Seferovic and chose to handle the ball rather than allow the Einracht Frakfurt striker a free run on goal.
It was almost a double punishment for Albania from the resulting free kick which, from the edge of the box, Blerim Dzemaili smashed off the post with Etrit Berisha beaten in the Albania goal.
To their credit, ten man Albania continued to take the game to their opposition, and Armir Lenjani had a chance to level when he found space in the box, but again he hesitated and Schar got across to block the shot.
The extra space in defence meant Taulant Xhaka was forced to drop deeper, but the Swiss continued to threaten and Djemaili shot just wide before Seferovic stung Berisha's hands with a close-range strike.
Albania's confidence continued to grow in the second half, and a superb lofted ball from Hysaj – who took over the armband after Cana's departure – almost caught out Djourou, but he was just about able to avert danger.
The Swiss continued to create chances, however, and Seferovic forced an identical save to his first-half chance, before spurning an even better opportunity when one-on-one with Berisha, the referee having allowed play to continue as Lenjani lay sprawled on the grass.
Lenjani was to take another tumble – this time in the box – as the already-booked Schar attempted to halt his run.
It looked a penalty in real-time, and the Albanian support was incensed when the big-screen replay showed the defender had held back the lively Nantes winger.
Sadiku had another great chance when played in by Hysaj, but from a tight angle he could only find the side-netting when a shot across goal seemed the better option.
And they simply had to equalise when, with two minutes remaining, substitute Shkelzen Gashi found himself through on goal, only to hesitate and allow Sommer the time to get down and block his effort.
They continued to press in vain for an elusive equaliser, but the effect of over 50 minutes with ten men perhaps told as they struggled to break out of their own half.
After the match, Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka made for the Albanian fans and were duly showered with adulation for their part in an entertaining game.
Whether the same fans will one day get to see their heroes play in the blue of Kosovo is a question that, for now, remains to be answered.
Albania: Etrit Berisha; Ansi Agolli, Mergim Mavraj, Lorik Cana, Elseid Hysaj; Taulant Xhaka (Ergys Kace 61), Burim Kukeli, Amir Abrashi, Ermir Lenjani, Odise Roshi (Sokol Cikalleshi 73); Armando Sadiku (Shkelzen Gashi 82).
Subs not used: Orges Shehi (gk), Alban Hoxha (gk), Andi Lila, Frederic Veseil, Migjen Basha, Ledian Memushaj, Shkelzen Gashi, Sokol Cikalleshi, Naser Aliji, Arlind Ajeti, Bekim Balaj, Ergys Kace.
Booked: Cana (23, 36), Kace (63), Kukeli (89), Mavraj (90+2).
Sent off: Cana (36).
Switzerland: Yann Sommer; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schar, Johan Djourou, Ricardo Rodriguez; Granit Xhaka, Vaon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili (Fabian Frei 75), Xherdan Shaqiri, Admir Mehmedi (Breel Embolo 62); Haris Serafovic.
Subs not used: Marwin Hitz (gk), Roman Burki (gk), , Francois Moubandje, Nico Elvedi. Steve von Bergen, Michael Lang, Breel Embolo, Fabian Frei, Denis Zakaria,
Booked: Schar (13) Behrami (67).
Sent off: None.
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain).
Attendance: 33,805.
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Elseid Hysaj (Albania).
You can see Al Robinson's pictures from the game here.
