Euro Cup 2016: Switzerland hold on to defeat 10-man Albania 1-0

It was indiscipline that cost Albania the Euro 2016 game as their skipper and one of the most important figures in their side, Loric Cana was sent off for two bookable offences in the first half. Early in the game, Fabian Schar scored from a Xherdan Shaqiri header to put the Swiss in the lead. Despite going a man down and playing in their first tournament, Albania were no pushovers and stretched the Swiss on occasions. In a low scoring contest such as this, taking ones chances was always going to be of paramount importance and Gashi had that late in the game, when he was through on goal but Yan Sommer came out, made himself big and shot on goal. The shot was parried out for a corner and that would go on to be Albania’s only clear-cut shot on goal.

Xherdan Shaqiri was the cynosure of all eyes as the large Albanian contingent that had turned out at Lens jeered the Stoke City winger incessantly but that was not going to bother him. Using his thunderous left-foot to his advantage, Shaqiri whipped in a pin-point corner and created good chances in the game throughout, popping across the forward line to create chances. Switzerland’s defence were staunch but were lucky to have gotten away with a couple of legitimate penalty shouts. Making their debut in the tournament, Albania were impressive in parts but were stopped by Sommer at goal on a few occasions. The Swiss celebrated wildly at the sound of the final whistle but it was relief more than a feeling of a job well done.

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