Group E: Late goal lifts Swiss to emotional win over Serbia

Xherdan Shaqiri was born in Kosovo, a former Serbian province.

KALININGRAD, RUSSIA— Albania’s national flag was at the centre of Switzerland’s 2-1 victory against Serbia on Friday at the World Cup.

Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri celebrated their goals by making a nationalist symbol of their ethnic Albanian heritage.

Both players put their open hands together with their thumbs locked and fingers outstretched to make what looks like the double-headed eagle displayed on Albania’s flag. The thumbs represent the heads of the two eagles, while the fingers look like the feathers.

“I think about this, I don’t want to speak,” said Shaqiri, who also took off his shirt after scoring.

“In football, you have always emotions. You can see what I did, and it’s just emotion, and I’m just happy to have scored the goal. I did it, and we don’t have to speak about this.”

The gesture is likely to inflame tensions among Serb nationalists and ethnic Albanians.

Serbia’s players did not react to the eagle gestures at Kaliningrad Stadium.

“I don’t have any comments,” Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic said. “I don’t deal with these things. I am a man of sports, and this is what I’m going to stay being.”

In the tournament’s first come-from-behind victory, Xhaka made it 1-1 in the 52nd minute with a powerful shot through a crowded penalty area. Shaqiri added the other in injury time after running past the Serbian defence.

Their celebrations were emo- tional and could overshadow Switzerland’s victory.

“You should never mix politics and football. You should always show respect,” Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic said. “It’s a wonderful atmosphere and a positive experience and that’s what football should be about.”

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored for Serbia with a header in the fifth minute.

The win puts Switzerland into second place in Group E with four points, the same as Brazil.