DOHA: Switzerland’s defeat has made their upcoming World Cup rematch even more enticing, and with a lot more at stake.
The Group G game between Switzerland and Serbia has been one to watch since the schedule was announced in April. Not only because of the talented players on both teams, but also because of the political tensions they brought to the field during their last World Cup meeting.
Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka celebrated his goal against Serbia four years ago in Russia by making a double-headed eagle with his hands — thumbs representing the heads of the two eagles, fingers fanned to look like feathers. The statue is regarded as an Albanian nationalist symbol.
Xherdan Shaqiri scored again in the final minute and did the same with his hands as the Swiss won 2-1 in the second of three group games.
Both Xhaka and Shaqiri are ethnic Albanians with family ties to Kosovo. They were teenagers in Switzerland when Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, which the Serbs still refuse to recognize 14 years later.
During the tournament, FIFA fined both players, and the Albanian government opened a bank account for people to contribute to the $10,000 Swiss franc ($10,500) penalties.
Only one of the two teams will be able to advance to the round of 16 in Qatar on Friday. Brazil has already qualified for the knockout round after defeating the Swiss 1-0 on Monday and Serbia 2-0 last Thursday.
The Swiss are likely to need only a draw at Stadium 974, and Xherdan Shaqiri should be available after missing the match against Brazil due to a muscle injury.
Xhaka, now 30 and a mature leader for his country, dismissed the contentious match four years ago.
“There’s nothing in the history of these two games,” the Arsenal midfielder explained. “We are Switzerland, and they are Serbia.” We’re all here to play football, them and us.”
Nonetheless, the Serbian delegation at this year’s World Cup has already raised the issue of Kosovo politics.
Serbia’s locker room before their first game against Brazil featured a national flag with Kosovo on it and the slogan “No Surrender.” On Saturday, FIFA initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Serbian soccer federation.
After a photograph circulated, the Kosovo Soccer Federation formally complained to FIFA, and the country’s sports minister, Hajjrulla Ceku, described the image as using the World Cup to promote “hateful, xenophobic, and genocidal messages.”
The Swiss advanced to the round of 16 in 2018 after drawing their final group match with Costa Rica, while the Serbs were eliminated after losing to Brazil. This time, the teams square off in their final group game.
“Of course, history is history,” said Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who also faced Serbia in Kaliningrad four years ago. “But for the time being, the game will take precedence.”
“We’ve played this game before,” Sommer added. “It was available in Russia.”
Source: AP
