In summary
Albania had their moments and created a couple of decent chances – but it may have turned out quite differently if they had 11 players on the pitch. Fabian Schar’s early header, capitalising on an error from the goalkeeper Etri Berisha, was enough to earn Vladimir Petkovic’s Switzerland an opening weekend win. Albania had their captain, Lorik Cana, sent off eight minutes before the interval for a second yellow due to a deliberate handball but battled well. In reality, neither are likely to trouble France in Group A and go deep into this tournament. But it was still an entertaining watch. Thanks for reading – now immediately turn your attention to Wales v Slovakia with Paul Doyle.
Full-time! Albania 0-1 Switzerland
90 min +3: Albania win a free-kick in their own half. Agolli launches it forward but Djourou gets in the way … and that’s your lot. Switzerland take the win, but only just.
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90 min +2: Mevraj concedes a free-kick deep in Switzerland’s half and they should kill the game off now and head to the corner.
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90 min: There will be three minutes added on.
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90 min: Abrashi wins a free-kick on the left. It’s taken short and quick to Kache and he sends a dismal diagonal straight into the hands of Sommer.
89 min: Kukeli, who has filled in at centre back for Cana, gets booked for cynically hauling down Embolo. He is entered into Seno Carballo’s black book.
88 min: Shaqiri is off, replaced by Gelson Fernandes. OK, on reflection after seeing a replay that is a very good save from Sommer but Gashi had far more to aim at.
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87 min: Yes they can but it is wasted by the substitute Gashi, who is straight through on goal and with only Sommer to beat cannot pick a corner, allowing the keeper to make the save.
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86 min: Lenjani sends in a cross from the left but there are no red shirts in the box and Sommer claims. Can Albania fashion another chance?
85 min: Shaqiri, who is still being jeered by the Albanian fans, delivers a stinking corner – putting far too much on the delivery.
84 min: Frei has a pop from range and it is deflected out for a corner.
83 min: Replays of Lenjani v Lictsteiner are shown and that appears harsh on Albania. Very much file it under I’ve Seen ‘Em Given.
81 min: Now, at the opposite end, Seferovic goes down from a challenge by Berisha. Again the referee is not interested. Albania make their final change: Sadiku comes off, Shkelzen Gashi replaces him and instantly urges the Albania fans to make some noise.
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80 min: Albania have calls for a penalty ignored. Lenjani appears to be obstructed by Lictsteiner. Both end up flailing on the floor and referee Carballo waves play on.
77 min: Albania get their chance, and fail to take it. Hysaj, forward from right back, squares to Sadiku but he cannot find the target from about eight yards, put off by Sommer stretching to cut out the angle. The shot, poorly executed, hits the side-netting.
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76 min: A second change for Switzerland sees Dzemaili trot off, replaced by Fabian Frei.
75 min: Embolo has looked good and lively since coming on. Seferovic holds up the ball and slides to the Basel striker – he hits a first-time curler but misses the target narrowly.
73 min: A positive change for Albania sees the target man Sokol Cikalleshi replace Odise Roshi, who spent much of the game wide on the right.
72 min: Albania will be satisfied with how they have stunted Switzerland but, really, they have not done enough to trouble Sommer. And the worry is if/when they commit more players forward, Embolo’s pace could punish them on the break.
69 min: Albania win their first corner of the half. Kace takes it on the left but Schar rises to head the ball away.
66 min: Switzerland zip it about under little pressure before Shaqiri advances forward and Abrishi dispossesses him. Albania break through Lenjani, he hits the deck following a challenge from Behrami but the move continues until Embolo steals the ball from Kukeli. Embolo, possessor of fresh legs, charges forward and slides a lovely pass to Seferovic. He fends of Hysaj and finds space to shoot but Berisha saves well with his right boot. The referee comes back to book Behrami for his earlier tackle.
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64 min: Shaqiri takes the free-kick that follows but it’s a little too far out and Berisha makes an easy save.
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63 min: Taulant throws a tantrum: upset by the end of the Xhaka duel, he batters a bottle when reaching the dugout. His replacement, Kace, is booked for his first involvement – he loses possession to Behrami, pulls down the Swiss player’s shorts and then hacks at him. Err, not the best start for him.
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62 min: And a change for Switzerland immediately followed – Breel Embolo, the highly-rated Basel forward, comes on for Admir Mehmedi.
61 min: Here comes that change, the first of the match. Ergys Kace replaces Taulant Xhaka.
60 min: Lenjani races forward but Lichtsteiner steps into where Djourou should be to quell any danger. Then a cross from the right is picked from the air by Sommer.
58 min: This is becoming desperately sloppy and error-strewn. There is no shortage of misplaced passes and numerous slips and poor control … but Albania are still in with a shout. They will make a substitute soon, too.
56 min: Behrami, featuring a barnet almost as bad as Aaron Ramsey, fouls Kukeli on halfway. Speaking of Ramsey, there is a concern for Wales over the fitness of goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey for this evening’s game against Slovakia – confirmed team news is still 45 minutes away though.
55 min: Granit Xhaka and Dzemaili share a heated exchange as the former berates the latter for moving the ball on too slowly.
53 min: Seferovic is denied by Berisha again after a sweet Granit Xhaka pass to the striker – the keeper is making up for his dismal error, standing up well to the striker’s toe poke and palming the ball away.
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@alansmith90 Not so sure an Albanian goal comes from a set-piece. There are definite gaps down the seams for Vardy-like fast breaks.
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) June 11, 2016
A slight problem: they do not have a Vardy-paced attacker.
52 min: Now Agolli sends a good pass forward to Sadiku but Djourou does well to block the avenue to goal, forcing the Albanian attacker out of play, leading to a goal-kick.
51 min: Djourou, awoken from his slumber by that dicey moment, heads a tasty cross from the left away.
50 min: Djourou, as Arsenal fans may recall, is always capable of lapse and he almost allows Sadiku through when dallying and lazily attempting to clear a long ball forward.
48 min: The early exchanges are tepid. Can the Swiss kill the game off with an early second goal? Or are Albania capable of frustrating to the extent they can keep within one goal and threaten from a set piece? That appears their only likely route back into the game.
Peep!
46 min: Switzerland gets us going again. No changes for either side.
For once half-and-half tat is justified: frére Xhaka
Mum of Granit + Taulant Xhaka wearing a half-and-half t-shirt of Albania + Switzerland. (Via @TheFev) pic.twitter.com/c7bNpVwMOP
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) June 11, 2016
Some half time reading on Dimitri Payet and his magic last night – will there be a better goal scored all tournament? Maybe not.
Half-time: Albania 0-1 Switzerland
45 min +1: Shaqiri attempts to find Seferovic but overhits his pass, the ball trickling out for a goal-kick. And that’s the last act of the half. Schar’s early goal, heading into an empty net after Berisha, the Albania keeper, went walkabout, has Switzerland ahead. Albania battled well and created a couple of decent chances before their captain, Cana, was dismissed for two yellows – the first an aggressive and late tackle on Dzemaili near halfway, the second a deliberate handball on the edge of the box – and they now have quite the task at hand to get back into the game.
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45 min: There will be one minute added on.
44 min: Albania win their third corner. Xhaka will take … but Sommer is strong and confident and catches the ball – the antithesis of Berisha’s attempt from the corner that led to the goal.
43 min: Dzemaili finds Seferovic with a suave through ball but the striker’s shot is well stopped by Berisha.
Human Sporting Encyclopedia Rob Smyth is quick to point out an uncanny resemblance between Cana and Beckenbauer
41 min: Dzemaili goes close after Lichtsteiner squares to him, shooting first time with his right but only finding the side-netting.
39 min: Linjani finds himself alone in attack for Albania and, crowded by white shirts, has no option but to send a speculative effort goalwards. It is tame and Sommer makes the easiest of easy saves.
38 min: Dzemaili takes, it is deflected and comes back off the right post. Switzerland will be looking to kill this off with a second before half-time now.
Red card! Albania's captain Cana is sent off
37 min: Oh dear – just as they were getting back into the game, Albania lose their captain for a silly handball. He slips under pressure on the edge of the area from Seferovic and puts his arm out to handle the ball. The referee has no option but to flash a second yellow … and to make matters worse Shaqiri and Dzemaili are lining up a free-kick on the edge of the area.
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36 min: Switzerland venture forward for the first time in a little while but Shaqiri is punished for a nudge on Roshi, who hits the deck far too easily. The referee still gives a free-kick.
33 min: Albania charge forward menacingly once more but Roshi’s low cross from the right edge of the box is cleared.
32 min: Rodriguez is penalised for a shoulder charge on Hysaj. A free-kick and nothing more on the right wing, a few yards inside the Albania half.
31 min: A terrific save from Sommer keeps Switzerland in front. Hysaj sends a sweet defence-splitting pass forward from the right. Sadiku latches on and races past Djourou. The Albanian striker only has the goalkeeper to beat but Sommer makes himself big and saves.
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30 min: Albania’s good spell continues until Roshi runs with his head down and, inevitably, into trouble by the name of Granit Xhaka.
28 min: Better from Albania as Linjani, wide on the left, wins a corner off Schar. Taulant Xhaka sends a teasing in-swinger from the left where Schar (again!) is on hand to clear.
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27 min: Albania get their first sight of goal through Taulant Xhaka, who plays a one-two with Roshi before driving narrowly wide. Sommer raises his hands to signal no danger.
26 min: Shaqiri is then flagged for offside – a poor call – after Hysaj is bundled off the ball by Mehmedi on the left.
24 min: Within seconds of play restarting, Shaqiri is whistled for dragging Agolli’s shirt.
23 min: Cana, the Albania captain, is booked for a heavy and late tackle on Dzemaili.
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21 min: Now Albania win their first corner, with Schar heading Agolli’s cross from the left away from danger. Lenjani jogs across to take it but it’s headed away by Behrami at the near-post.
20 min: Kevin Kilbane, a fine co-commentator, correctly points out on BBC that Albania’s game plan has not changed despite falling behind. They are happy to let Switzerland have the ball in deeper areas, satisfied to sit back, break up play when their opponents come forward and then attempt to charge forward quickly. Unfortunately for them, the Swiss are not exactly committing too many forward and therefore countering space has been at a premium.
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18 min: Rodriguez looks a player. Comfortable in defensive areas and full of energy to get forward – he has been the standout player thus far.
16 min: Another corner for Switzerland – and more hooting towards Shaqiri. He takes this one short, no danger ensues. The ball is moved to the left where Rodriguez tries to play a through ball, but that rolls out for a goal-kick.
15 min: Seferovic drives forward and gets a good sight of goal, only to send his shot straight at Berisha, who saves with ease. That should settle the keeper after that horror for the goal.
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13 min: And now Schar is booked for a late tackle on Lenjani. Taulant Xhaka delivers from the left … sending it right down Sommer’s throat. Poor.
11 min: Watching the goal again, the keeper’s flapping attempt gets worse with each replay.
9 min: And now a chance to breathe. Switzerland pass it about casually – too casually almost as Djourou is pressured by Sadiku, who is close to dispossessing the centre-half. The Albania striker would have had a clear path to goal, too.
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7 min: Taulant Xhaka dribbles down the left and a cross comes in from Abrashi. Schar heads away but then Mehmedi is late on Cana and the referee is immediately on the scene to give a foul. The free-kick is chipped into the box but not to any player in particular and Schar is on hand to hook clear without pressure.
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6 min: That is so, so poor from Albania. Schar has too much time and plenty of space to rise near the penalty spot and direct the ball into the left corner. Berisha, the Albania goalkeeper, is in the proverbial no-man’s land.
GOAL! Albania 0-1 Switzerland (Schar)
5 min: Shaqiri whips in the corner, to loud boos, and the Hoffenheim defender rises to head home! What a start.
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4 min: This is a good start from the Swiss. Rodriguez gets forward, and finds his way past Hysaj with ease. His cross is not Payet like but Switzerland do win a corner on the right.
3 min: Granit Xhaka gives away a foul near halfway for a tasty slide on Abrashi. No card, just a free-kick but it seems a good time to note how card happy Mr Carballo has appeared in Champions League games this season.
3 min: Rodriguez, the left-back, comes up to take the corner. Albania clear without any bother.
2 min: Switzerland pass it about across their defence, to deafening whistles and jeers, amplified when it comes to a player that could have played for Albania. Eventually they move forward and Mehmedi’s cross from the left is deflected for a corner.
Peep!
1 min: Albania kick-off, in red shirts and black shorts, playing from left to right as we watch, with Switzerland in white.
Switzerland’s captain, Stephan Lichtsteiner, has won the toss against Lorik Cana – but does that really matter? It’s not exactly cricket.
Albanian fans look to be outweighing their Swiss counterparts significantly. There appeared to be a couple of sporadic whistles from the former when the latter’s anthem is played (nothing major, nothing to really get wound up about) – and then a belting rendition of Himni i Flamurit, or Hymn to the Flag to you and me. Almost ready to go.
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The teams are in the tunnel. The atmosphere sounds amazing. How’s it going to go? Switzerland are favourites but Albania, an unknown quantity for most neutrals, are capable of surprising – will it be a draw?
The best thing about tournament football is being allowed to get excited about games like these but, for the majority, this really is a mere appetiser for Wales v Slovakia and England v Russia. To get you in the mood for all three, here is some hot preview video to digest before the action gets underway.
Here is a neat guide to today’s venue: Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens. It’s one of the most compact at the tournament.
Our #Euro2016 guide to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, venue for #Alb v #Sui https://t.co/6uMfXusGJHhttps://t.co/P89BSCD3tR
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) June 11, 2016
The teams
Albania: Berisha; Hysaj, Mavraj, Cana, Agolli; Xhaka, Kukeli, Abrashi; Roshi, Lenjani; Sadiku.
Switzerland: Sommer; Lichsteiner, Schar, Djourou, Rodriguez; Behrami, Dzemaili, G Xhaka, Shaqiri, Seferovic, Mehmedi.
Referee: C Velasco Carballo (Sp).
Weather: Overcast, 20c.
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Preamble
Four years ago a delegation secretly sought the signatures of Albania and Switzerland players of Kosovar descent with the hope of convincing Fifa to allow the state to become members. Just weeks after Kosovo’s long-awaited admission and recognition the two national teams with the best talent linked to that territory do battle in Euro 2016 Group A.
Today also presents a Europeans Championship first: brothers playing each other. Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka versus his older sibling Taulant, of Albania. Their Kosovar-Albanian parents moved to Switzerland at a young age and, taught their trade in the vaunted Swiss underage system, the brothers are about to face each other for the first time here. “We would have been very unhappy if both teams hadn’t made it,” their father, Ragip, a political prisoner before emigrating to Switzerland said this week. “One son for Switzerland and one for Albania – it’s the perfect reflection of our family.”
In total nine members of Albania’s squad had the right to play for Switzerland, and half a dozen in the Swiss team could have opted for Albania. Xherdan Shaqiri, Stoke’s barrel-like dynamo, is among the latter, but despite Switzerland benefitting from waves of immigration in the 90s they have also trained a number of today’s opposition – seven of Albania’s squad played underage for Switzerland.
Vladimir Petkovic’s team are big favourites, the team with all the experience. Albania should not be completely discounted, though, and a squad that includes several players from Serie A is capable of springing a surprise. “We have undergone an evolution in the last four years, we are better both defensively and offensively,” their head coach, Gianni De Biasi, said in this interview with James Riach. “The people were passionate before I got here but even more so now. Everyone is very content because no one thought it was possible to achieve this dream.” That dream was largely achieved thanks to a win at Portugal in their opening qualifier – that was almost two years ago but still sufficient evidence that the debutants are capable of springing a surprise.
Kick-off is 3pm in Lens (2pm BST). Team news to follow.
In the meantime, here is some pre-match reading
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