When Switzerland and Serbia were drawn against one another at World Cup 2022, there were more than a few glances cast towards a final group match between the pair. Not just because they faced one another four years ago. Not just because with Brazil the overwhelming favourites to head through, the two European nations may be playing off for the other spot in the last-16.
You wouldn't immediately think of famously neutral Switzerland having political tension with anyone but after the last meeting between this pair in World Cup football, Swiss stars Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri were both fined 10,000 Swiss francs "for unsporting behaviour contrary to the principles of fair-play".
Could everything boil over against between the two sides at the World Cup once more?
Serbia and Switzerland have underlying political tensions… sort of
Serbia are facing disciplinary action after a nationalist flag was shown hanging in the team locker room.The flag depicts Kosovo, an independent nation since 2008, as part of Serbia with the slogan: "No Surrender". pic.twitter.com/HHNioRR97WNovember 26, 2022
In fact, it's not really Switzerland who have tensions: it's a few of the Switzerland players.
Xhaka and Shaqiri both have Eastern European ancestry. Xhaka's family are Albanian – his father was imprisoned in what is now modern-day Kosovo – while Shaqiri was born in Kosovo itself, back when it was officially part of Serbia. Both players' families escaped to Switzerland as refugees from the conflict between Serb forces and Kosovar-Albanian rebels.
In the aftermath of their respective goals against Serbia, Xhaka and Shaqiri both celebrated by making an eagle gesture with their hands, in reference to the Albanian flag. Serbia have reacted this World Cup, too – FIFA has already launched an investigation after photographs emerged of a Serbian nationalist flag hung up in the team's dressing room with the outline of Kosovo seen in the Serbian national colours.
Let's get ready for potential fireworks tonight, then.
