LENS, France (AP) — For the first time in European
Championship history, two brothers played for opposing sides when Switzerland
beat Albania 1-0 on Saturday in their opening Group A match.
Granit Xhaka helped the Swiss to victory over an Albania
side that included his older brother Taulant, in their first international
encounter on different teams.
"It was a very special moment for our family having two
sons playing on opposite sides," said Granit, who was recently signed by
Arsenal after captainingBorussia Monchengladbach to fourth place in
theBundesliga last season. "It was rather bizarre.
"I think we played very well, very professional, we
gave everything for our country, both of us. We're both very happy, me a bit
more because we won."
The Xhaka brothers were born in Basel, Switzerland to a
Kosovar-Albanian family. They both played for Swiss national youth teams before
Taulant decided to represent Albania at senior level. Granit opted to stay with
Switzerland.
After the national anthems were played on Saturday, the two
added a brotherly hug to the usual handshakes between the two teams.
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