Granit rocks in battle of the brothers as Swiss get a head start from Schar

ALBANIA ................. 0 SWITZERLAND ........ 1

ARSENAL new boy Granit Xhaka won the battle of the brothers as Albania’s debut at a major tournament ended in defeat.

The Switzerland midfielder was up against his brother Taulant, the first time two siblings have faced each other in European Championship history, and the younger Xhaka came out on top in the Group A tie.

Albania keeper Etrit Berisha totally missed Xherdan Shaqiri’s fifth-minute corner, allowing Fabian Schar to head home (right).

The underdogs then had captain Lorik Cana sent off for a second bookable offence 10 minutes before half-time.

A link between the two nations was established when Switzerland accepted thousands of Kosovar Albanians fleeing the Balkan wars in the 1990s.

The Xhakas were part of that migration with Taulant switching his allegiance to Albania having played for Switzerland Under-21s.

In fact, all 10 midfielders who started the match were of Albanian descent. Haris Seferovic should have doubled the lead but shot straight at Berisha from Blerim Dzemaili’s lay-off. Former Sunderland defender Cana was then booked for going through the back of Dzemaili.

And he saw red after he slipped chasing a long ball with Seferovic before handling the ball away on the edge of the penalty area.

Dzemaili hit the resulting free-kick against the foot of the post.

Taulent Xhaka shot wide then Yann Sommer saved well after Armando Sadiku had timed his sprint perfectly to run in behind the Switzerland defence to collect Elseid Hysaj’s brilliant raking pass.

Dzemaili flashed a first-time shot wide before Seferovic’s angled shot was parried by Berisha.

Sadiku fired into the side-netting but Albania’s best chance came in the 87th minute when substitute Shkelzen Gashi was played clean through only to shoot too close to Sommer who tipped over.