00:04Featuring such a wide array of competing nations, the World Cup finals can often throw up matches
00:10with more at stake than group face points or knockout stage progress. England and Argentina
00:16had recently been at war when they faced off in the quarterfinals of Mexico 86. The USA and Iran
00:22met at France 98 in a clash, dubbed the most politically charged in World Cup history.
00:28And in 2018, Switzerland's 2-1 group phase victory over Serbia joined that list. The Swiss team,
00:36arguably the greatest in the country's history, was built around two players, Granit Xhaka and
00:42Jardin Shakiri. Absolutely. I think we are the best Switzerland national team that has ever existed
00:50with Granit as captain. Shakiri was born in Kosovo to Albanian, Kosovar parents. But when he was a baby,
01:00his family fled the regional civil war for the safety of Switzerland. Shaka was born in Switzerland,
01:06but like Shakiri to Kosovo-Albanian parents. Kosovo is a former Serbian province that unilaterally
01:14declared independence in 2008. Serbia does not officially recognize it as a sovereign state.
01:21This historic tension spilled over at Russia 2018, when Xhaka and Shakiri scored for Switzerland
01:27against Serbia to secure a 2-1 victory. Both celebrated their goals by placing their hands
01:34into the shape of a double-headed eagle, a gesture interpreted as a symbol of Albanian nationalism.
01:39It enraged Serbian supporters, and following an investigation, FIFA fined both players 10,000
01:46Swiss francs. The victory was instrumental in Switzerland, qualifying out of Group E alongside
01:52Brazil. But their tournament ended tamely, with a 1-0 defeat to Sweden in the round of 16.
01:58The victory was made in Switzerland.
