Switzerland’s defeat made their upcoming World Cup rematch all of the extra enticing, and lots was at stake.
Ever for the reason that match schedule was made in April, the Group G match between Switzerland and Serbia has been the main focus of consideration. Not solely due to the proficient gamers on each groups, however due to the political stress after they met within the final World Cup.
Four years in the past in Russia, Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka celebrated his objective in opposition to Serbia by making a double-headed eagle along with his arms – the thumbs representing the 2 eagle heads, the fingers unfold to appear to be wings . The motif is taken into account an Albanian nationalist image.
Xherdan Shaqiri scored one other objective within the final minute of the sport, and did the identical along with his personal hand because the Swiss gained 2–1 within the second of the three group matches. Both Xhaka and Shaqiri have ethnic Albanian heritage and household ties to Kosovo. They had been youngsters rising up in Switzerland when Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, one thing Serbs nonetheless do not acknowledge 14 years later. Both gamers had been fined by FIFA throughout the match, and the federal government of Albania opened a checking account for individuals to contribute in direction of paying the ten,000 Swiss francs ($10,500) nice.
On Friday, solely one of many two groups will be capable of enter the spherical of 16 in Qatar. Brazil, who beat Switzerland 1-0 on Monday and Serbia 2-0 final Thursday, have already booked their place within the knockout rounds. The Swiss participant solely wants a draw on the Stadion 974, and Shaqiri must be accessible to play after lacking the match in opposition to Brazil with a hamstring damage.
Xhaka, now 30 and a mature chief for his nation, sat out the controversial match 4 years in the past.
“(There’s) nothing in the history behind these two games,” the Arsenal midfielder stated. “We are Switzerland, they are Serbia, that’s all. We are here to play football – they, us too.” Nevertheless, the Serbian delegation to this yr’s World Cup has already made the politics of Kosovo a problem.
Before their opening sport in opposition to Brazil, Serbia’s locker room displayed a nationwide flag with a subject that included Kosovo and Nara.
“no Surrender.” FIFA opened a disciplinary case in opposition to the Serbian Football Federation on Saturday.
The Kosovo Football Federation formally complained to FIFA after a photograph was circulated and the nation’s sports activities minister Hajrullah Seku described the picture as utilizing the World Cup to advertise “hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages”. . The Swiss reached the final 16 in 2018 after a draw with Costa Rica of their closing group match, whereas the Serbs had been knocked out after shedding to Brazil. This time, the groups will face one another of their closing group sport.
“Of course, history is history,” stated Switzerland goalkeeper Jan Sommer, who additionally performed in opposition to Serbia 4 years in the past in Kaliningrad. “But this sport will probably be essential in the intervening time.
“We already know this game,” Sommer stated. “We had it in Russia.”
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
