World Cup 2018: Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri Albanian Eagle gesture towards Serbia after scoring for Switzerland
Swiss goalscorers Xhaka and Shaqiri made the hand gesture during their goal celebrations in the comeback win over the Serbs
GRANIT XHAKA and Xherdan Shaqiri scored for Switzerland against Serbia – before making a gesture celebrating Albania.
After turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win, both players sprinted away in celebration, joined their thumbs together and spread their fingers to imitate the Albanian Eagle.
Xhaka, 25, was born in Basel, Switzerland to Kosovan-Albanian parents.
His brother Taulant, 27, plays for Albania and the pair are hugely proud of their heritage.
Stoke City ace Shaqiri, 26, was born in Gjilan, Kosovo when it was part of the former Yugoslavia and emigrated to Switzerland in 1992 with his parents and three siblings.
The Kosovo War that ended in 1999 remains a contentious state, particularly in Serbia.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008, has its own government and is recognised by 117 UN nations, but Serbia does not currently acknowledge its independence.
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"When the war started it became impossible to go back, and things were very difficult for my family members who were stuck there.
"My uncle's house was burned to the ground and there was a lot of suffering.
"My father would send as much money back as he could, so we never had any extra spending money when I was growing up, except for maybe one thing on birthdays."
Kosovo played its first Fifa-approved international in 2014 and took part in World Cup qualifying for the first time for this summer's tournament.
They will be part of the Uefa Nations League and Euro 2020 qualifying starting in September.