Loyalties will be divided like never before in Lens on Saturday.
For the first time in the European Championship’s 56-year history, two brothers will be on the pitch – but playing for opposing sides.
In the red of Albania will be defender Taulant Xhaka, 25.
In the white of Switzerland will be his younger brother and Arsenal’s new £30million midfielder Granit Xhaka , 23.
And, understandably, the Group A clash has presented the Xhaka family with a huge dilemma – who to support.
Dad Ragip said: “I am the happiest father in the world at this moment. Both my sons will be playing in the Euro championship. I was a little upset that both Switzerland and Albania will be in the same group. I would have loved to see them play in the final, but not in the same group.”
The family affair will be reminiscent of the meeting between Germany and Ghana at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil that featured a mini-battle between brothers Jerome (Germany) and Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana).
The Xhaka brothers were both born in Basel, Switzerland.
But their parents are of Kosovo-Albanian descent, which gave Granit and Taulant the option to represent either country. Initially, they both pledged their allegiance to Switzerland, representing the country of their birth from under-17 level up to under-21s.
But, while Granit was persuaded to stick with Switzerland, Basel’s Taulant chose to switch to Albania in 2014 at senior level, paving the way for Saturday afternoon’s showdown.
Granit said: “It is a very special match for me and the family. We have spoken about it at home.
“To play against each other is absolutely the last thing we could wish for. We have faced each other before, back when I was at Basel and my brother was on loan at Grasshopper Zürich.
“My brother and I were both born and grew up in Switzerland. I saw Albania for the first time at the age of 12 and, since then, I have been on holiday there many times in the summer and winter with my grandparents.
“The Albania national team never showed an interest in me, but Switzerland did. With my brother, it was a different story.
“It will be tough, not only against Taulant, but also against Albania. We played them two years ago and it was really difficult.
“It will be tougher now that my brother has joined the Red and Blacks.
“It was very strange when we played against each other for our clubs, but we are both looking forward to the game and we are professional enough to not let our close relationship be a factor.”
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