Euro 2016 brothers clash as Granit and Taulant Xhaka go head to head in Euro 2016 clash as Switzerland face Albania
Arsenal fans get their chance to see new £30million signing in action as Group A clash pits siblings against each other
EURO 2016 is primed for ‘Xhaka v Xhaka’… with more than just brotherly bragging rights at stake.
For most British sports fans Albania v Switzerland did not leap out of the schedule when the fixtures were announced.
Indeed for those that had already sat through England and Wales playing rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere while keeping an eye on England’s cricket Test with Sri Lanka, the 2pm game merely represents an opportunity to take a break from the box ahead of Wales’ European Championships debut against Slovakia and then England’s opener against Russia.
But you’d be wrong, because Granit Xhaka – Arsenal’s new £30million man – is up against his brother Taulant at international level with no fewer than SIXTEEN players in both squads that could have chosen to play for either team.
“We’ve made a bet but have not yet decided on the reward. I will give my best for Switzerland just as Taulant will for Albania.”
Granit Xhaka
Switzerland’s Granit faces Albania’s Taulant in their countries’ Group A opener in what promises to be an emotional and intriguing midfield clash.
Granit says: “We’ve made a bet [on the outcome] but have not yet decided on the reward.
“I will give my best for Switzerland just as Taulant will for Albania.”
Eight months earlier Taulant helped Albania to a Euro 2016 spot with a 3-0 win over Armenia as Granit voiced his support on social media.
Today at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens that brotherly love will surely turn to sibling rivalry, with the loser up against it in their quest to qualify for the knockout stages as two brothers face each other at a European Championships for the first time.
Footballing brothers who played for different countries
CHRISTIAN AND MAX VIERI (ITALY AND AUSTRALIA) Both chose to represent the countries they were born in, with Christian born in Italy before moving with his family to Australia, where Max was born. Christian has netted nine times for Italy at the World Cup, more times than any other Azzurri player, picking up 49 caps along the way.
PAUL, FLORENTIN AND MATHIAS POGBA (FRANCE AND GUINEA) Paul featured in France’s 2-1 victory for Romania last night and the Juventus star has been linked with a £60m move to Manchester United. His twin siblings have been less prolific after deciding to play for Guinea, the country of their parents’ birth.
RAFINHA AND THIAGO ALCANTARA (BRAZIL AND SPAIN) The sons of World Cup winner Mazinho, are two of the most successful brothers around. Younger brother and Barcelona midfielder Rafinha plays for Brazil like his father Bayern's. Thiago chose Spain where he has lived since he was five years old.
JEROME AND KEVIN-PRINCE BOATENG (GERMANY AND GHANA) The half-brothers have played each other twice before in the World Cup and become the first brothers to do it at a major tournament. Jerome's Germany came out on top in the group stages of the 2010 World Cup beating Kevin Prince's Ghana 1-0 before they played out a 2-2 draw in 2014.
The duo’s parents migrated from the former Yugoslavia in 1989 where they lived as part of a community that was largely populated by ethnically Albanian Kosovans.
Fast forward 27 years and their sons will face each other representing different countries, with Granit having received a hot reception from Swiss fans during a pitchside interview recently after voicing his support for Kosovo’s application to be recognised with Fifa and Uefa, which have both been successful.
Arsenal’s former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder is not the first man of Albanian descent to have made the move to Switzerland, with team-mates Valon Behrami, Xherdan Shaqiri, Shani Tarashaj, Blerim Dzemaili and Admir Mehmedi eligible to have represented the team they will be aiming to beat.
Watford’s former West Ham midfielder Behrami was one that seriously considered representing Albania, giving a sense of how emotionally charged the contest will be.
By the same token, Basel defender Taulant could have chosen to play for the Swiss, with five other members of the Albanian squad – Amir Abrashi, Arlind Ajeti, Migjen Basha, Shkelzen Gashi and Frederic Veseli – born in Switzerland and another four having grown up there.
Taulant, the elder of the brothers by two years is relatively inexperienced as international level with just ten caps to his name.
Granit has 41 caps for Switzerland, who are evens favourites to come good with a win.
All bets are off, however, on who the brothers will be swapping shirts with at full-time.