Albania v Switzerland, 11 June 2016

Score1-0 to Switzerland
RefereeCarlos Velasco Carballo
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Group A
VenueStade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens
Attendance33,805
Kick-off: 3.00pm local (2.00pm BST). Assistant referees: Roberto Alonso Fernández (Spain) Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain) Fourth official: Pol van Boekel (Netherlands) Additional assistant referees: Jesús Gil Manzano (Spain) Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain) Reserve assistant referee: Erwin Zeinstra (Netherlands) Man of the Match: Granit Xhaka (Switzerland) Before this game, Albania - playing their first-ever game at a major tournament - had never beaten Switzerland (drawn one and lost five) whilst the Swiss had never won its first game at a European Championships finals (drawn two and lost one) so the omens suggested a draw. This game was followed with divided loyalties by the Xhaka family. Taulant and Granit became the first brothers to play on opposite sides in a Euro finals game. Switzerland got off the a flying start as Albanian keeper Etrit Berisha came for a cross, only to be beaten by Fabian Schar who headed into the back of the net. On 31 minutes, Armando Sadiku was put through on goal but his shot was well saved by Yann Sommer. However, Albania's chances seemingly went up in smoke when captain Lorik Cana was correctly shown a second yellow for a deliberate handball on 36 minutes. Blerim Dzemaili hit the post with the subsequent free kick. Albanian substitute Ergys Kace was very lucky to escape with a yellow card after a pull and then dangerous play a minute after coming on. Switzerland had a good chance through Haris Seferovic but his shot was well saved by Berisha who appeared solid in goal, atoning somewhat for his early error. With the Swiss having failed to make their numerical advantage count, the game's tempo increased as full-time loomed and Albania had a good shout for a penalty for a foul on Ermir Lenjani. With minutes left, Shkelzen Gashi was put clear through on goal but his shot was excellently saved by Sommer and Switzerland's 11 men held out for the win.

0  Albania

Manager: Giovanni 'Gianni' de Biasi

1  Switzerland

Manager: Vladimir Petkovic

Goals:

Goals:

Fabian Schär 5 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Etrit Berisha
Defender Lorik Cana (captain)
Defender Mërgim Mavraj
Defender Taulant Xhaka
Defender/Midfielder Ansi Agolli
Defender/Midfielder Elseid Hysaj
Midfielder Amir Abrashi
Midfielder Burim Kukeli
Midfielder Ermir Lenjani
Midfielder Odise Roshi
Forward Armando Sadiku

Starting lineup:

Yann Sommer Goalkeeper
Johann Djourou Defender
Stefan Lichtsteiner Defender (captain)
Fabian Schär Defender
Valon Behrami Defender/Midfielder
Ricardo Rodríguez Defender/Midfielder
Granit Xhaka Defender/Midfielder
Blerim Dzemaili Midfielder
Xherdan Shaqiri Midfielder/Forward
Admir Mehmedi Forward

Substitutions:

Ergys Kaçe for Taulant Xhaka 62
Sokol Cikalleshi for Odise Roshi 74
Shkëlzen Gashi for Armando Sadiku 82

Substitutions:

Breel Embolo for Admir Mehmedi 62
Fabian Frei for Blerim Dzemaili 76
Gelson Fernandes for Xherdan Shaqiri 88

Cards:

Lorik Cana 23 Y
Lorik Cana 36 Y
Lorik Cana 36 R
Ergys Kaçe 63 Y
Burim Kukeli 89 Y
Mërgim Mavraj 90 Y

Cards:

Fabian Schär 13 Y
Valon Behrami 67 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Alban Hoxha
Goalkeeper Orges Shehi
Defender Arlind Ajeti
Defender Naser Aliji
Defender Andi Lila
Defender Fréddie Veseli
Midfielder Migjen Basha
Midfielder Sokol Cikalleshi
Midfielder Shkëlzen Gashi
Midfielder Ergys Kaçe
Midfielder Ledian Memushaj
Forward Bekim Balaj

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Roman Bürki
Goalkeeper Marwin Hitz
Defender Nico Elvedi
Defender Steve Von Bergen
Defender/Midfielder Fabian Frei
Defender/Midfielder Michael Lang
Defender/Midfielder François Moubandje
Midfielder Gelson Fernandes
Midfielder Denis Zakaria
Forward Eren Derdiyok
Forward Breel Embolo
Forward Shani Tarashaj

0  Albania

Manager: Giovanni 'Gianni' de Biasi

Goals:

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Etrit Berisha
Defender Lorik Cana (captain)
Defender Mërgim Mavraj
Defender Taulant Xhaka
Defender/Midfielder Ansi Agolli
Defender/Midfielder Elseid Hysaj
Midfielder Amir Abrashi
Midfielder Burim Kukeli
Midfielder Ermir Lenjani
Midfielder Odise Roshi
Forward Armando Sadiku

Substitutions:

Ergys Kaçe for Taulant Xhaka 62
Sokol Cikalleshi for Odise Roshi 74
Shkëlzen Gashi for Armando Sadiku 82

Cards:

Lorik Cana 23 Y
Lorik Cana 36 Y
Lorik Cana 36 R
Ergys Kaçe 63 Y
Burim Kukeli 89 Y
Mërgim Mavraj 90 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Alban Hoxha
Goalkeeper Orges Shehi
Defender Arlind Ajeti
Defender Naser Aliji
Defender Andi Lila
Defender Fréddie Veseli
Midfielder Migjen Basha
Midfielder Sokol Cikalleshi
Midfielder Shkëlzen Gashi
Midfielder Ergys Kaçe
Midfielder Ledian Memushaj
Forward Bekim Balaj

1  Switzerland

Manager: Vladimir Petkovic

Goals:

Fabian Schär 5 G

Starting lineup:

Yann Sommer Goalkeeper
Johann Djourou Defender
Stefan Lichtsteiner Defender (captain)
Fabian Schär Defender
Valon Behrami Defender/Midfielder
Ricardo Rodríguez Defender/Midfielder
Granit Xhaka Defender/Midfielder
Blerim Dzemaili Midfielder
Xherdan Shaqiri Midfielder/Forward
Admir Mehmedi Forward

Substitutions:

Breel Embolo for Admir Mehmedi 62
Fabian Frei for Blerim Dzemaili 76
Gelson Fernandes for Xherdan Shaqiri 88

Cards:

Fabian Schär 13 Y
Valon Behrami 67 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Roman Bürki
Goalkeeper Marwin Hitz
Defender Nico Elvedi
Defender Steve Von Bergen
Defender/Midfielder Fabian Frei
Defender/Midfielder Michael Lang
Defender/Midfielder François Moubandje
Midfielder Gelson Fernandes
Midfielder Denis Zakaria
Forward Eren Derdiyok
Forward Breel Embolo
Forward Shani Tarashaj