Albania 0-1 Switzerland: EURO 2016 Group A Report

Switzerland kicked off their EURO 2016 campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 victory over ten-man Albania inside the Stade Felix Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday afternoon.

Fabian Schar headed home the only goal of the game early on in Lens, shortly before fellow defender Lorik Cana was sent off for the Albanian’s after two yellow cards in the first-half.

Despite a below-par performance from the Swiss side, the victors draw level with France at the top of Group A following the tournament hosts’ 2-1 win over Romania on Friday night.

The game sprung into life after just five minutes, when Xherdan Shaqiri’s header was comfortably headed home by Hoffenheim defender Schar, with Albania goalkeeper Etrit Berisha in no man’s land.

Ex-Sunderland defender Cana was sent off for Albania after 37 minutes – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

The Stoke City winger’s contribution means Shaqiri has had a hand in nine goals in his last eight competitive games for Switzerland – four goals and five assists.

Shortly after the 15 minute mark, Haris Seferovic had the opportunity to double the Swiss’ lead, but the Frankfurt striker’s shot was too tame to trouble Berisha so soon after the opening strike.

Blerim Dzemaili; who was a constant menace for the Albanian defence in Lens, was then recklessly brought down by opposite captain Cana after 23 minutes – prompting his first yellow card of the encounter.

It took until the 26th minute for Albania to carve out their first real chance of the match. After nice build-up play from Odise Roshi and Taulant Xhaka, the latter midfielder soon spurned the opportunity after slicing Roshi’s lay-off high and wide of Yann Sommer’s goal.

However the Swiss shot stopper was soon called upon again, this time making an excellent save to deny Armando Sadiku drawing the Albanians level after 31 minutes played.

But as the match approached 36 minutes; Albania’s hopes of drawing level took a huge blow as skipper Cana received his marching orders.

Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo had no choice but to wave a second yellow card in front of the former Sunderland defender’s face following the 32-year-old’s clumsy handball just outside of his own penalty area.

From the resulting free-kick; the dangerous Dzemaili smacked Berisha’s left-hand post, before striking another effort narrowly wide of his near post shortly after after good work from right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner down the flank.

After half-time drew to a close; the ten-men of Albania almost scored an equaliser minutes into the second-half, but the lively Sadiku was just unable to get a toe on the end of defender Johan Djourou’s brilliant long ball forward.

With Switzerland looking vulnerable with only a one-nil lead, the introduction of highly-rated forward Breel Embolo soon lifted the leading side’s spirits and helped threatened a killer second goal.

Switzerland goalkeeper Sommer makes a brilliant stop from Gashi’s close-range strike to deny Albania snatching a share of the spoils – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

The FC Basel starlet made an instant impact, expertly threading through Seferovic through on goal with little over 23 minutes remaining, only for Albania ‘keeper Berisha to make amends for his goalscoring error early on with a top drawer block.

On 75 minutes; Embolo again was on the front foot, although the 19-year-old’s shot from 25 yards didn’t quite have enough curl to caress Berisha’s far top corner.

Just when it looked all doom and gloom for the ten-men of Albania, substitute Shkëlzen Gashi was then offered the golden opportunity to earn a precious point for his country.

Unfortunately for the Colorado Rapids forward, the 27-year-old found Swiss goalkeeper Sommer in inspired form, with the Borussia Monchengladbach shot stopper brilliantly beating away his effort with only three minutes remaining.

Moments later; Switzerland blew a huge sigh of relief as the full-time whistle sounded – their sixth win in their last seven encounters against Albania.

Having never advanced from the group stages of a European Championships, Saturday’s slender win over Albania certainly gives the Swiss hope of creating history this summer.

Man of the Match: Blerim Dzemaili – The midfielder was constantly instigating his country’s attacks, especially in the first-half, as Switzerland effectively won the game inside the opening 45 minutes. The Galatasaray star, who was on loan at Serie A outfit Genoa last season, smashed Berisha’s left-hand post with a wicked set piece shortly before the interval, before thrashing another effort wide shortly after. Unlucky to not get himself on the scoresheet.

What Next? Victors Switzerland will take on Romania on Wednesday, June 15, inside the Parc des Princes, meanwhile Albania face EURO 2016 hosts and Group A leaders France on the same day following their opening 2-1 victory over the Romanians on Friday.