TOUGH 10-MAN UNDERDOGS PUSH SWISS TO THE LIMIT
ONE red face followed by one red card – and the Albania fairy-tale looked to be over before it started.
By the time the clock at the Stade Felix BollaertDelesis in Lens had registered the end of the first half, Albania had lost a goal and their captain.
Goalkeeper Etrit Berisha was left embarrassed after five minutes when he came so far off his line to gather a corner from Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri that a search party was needed to find him.
The man to prosper from his horrendous misjudgement was Switzerland central defender Fabian Schar (below), who headed into an unguarded net. Albania lost their captain Lorik Cana in the 36th minute.
Cana – already booked for a needless foul in the 23rd minute – clearly handled the ball at the edge of his own area. Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo had no hesitation in showing a second yellow.
The only hint of a reprieve came when Blerim Dzemaili hit the post from the freekick that followed.
But after half-time, 10-man Albania put up a gutsy display with striker Armando Sadiku hitting the side netting and Switzerland defender Stephan Lichsteiner could have given away a penalty.
But the real drama came in the last minute.
Shkelzen Gashi was through on goal and the most unlikely of results looked possible.
But Switzerland keeper Yann Sommer pulled off a magnificent save.