Fabian Schar s fifth-minute header proved decisive as Switzerland edged out 10-man Albania 1-0 in their Euro 2016 opener at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday.
Albania goalkeeper Etrit Berisha ventured off his line to try and claim Xherdan Shaqiri s corner but was beaten to the delivery by Schar, who got Switzerland s Group A campaign off to a winning start.
Gianni Di Biasi s team scored just 10 goals in eight games during qualifying and their task was made all the more difficult by the dismissal of captain Lorik Cana, earning his 91st cap.
The defender received a second booking for a handball on the edge of his own box, and the right-hand post stopped Blerim Dzemaili compounding their misery from the ensuing set-piece.
Despite being a man light Alb…
Liverpool have announced Trent Alexander-Arnold has signed a new long-term contract extension with the club.
Alexander-Arnold has made 179 appearances for the Reds and was a crucial part of Jurgen Klopp s squad that won the Premier League title in 2019-20, ending the 30-year wait to be crowned top-flight champions again.
The right-back – who made his first-team debut in a League Cup tie against Tottenham in August 2016 – has committed his future to Liverpool as he prepares for the new domestic season, having missed out on Euro 2020 with England due to a thigh injury.
I m honoured to be given the opportunity and to be shown the trust in the club to be given an extension, so it was a no-brainer for me, Alexander-Arnold told the club s official website after ag…
Giorgio Chiellini still holds Antonio Conte in high regard and the Juventus defender would hate to see his former club and international boss take charge at Inter.
Conte, out of work since leaving Premier League side Chelsea at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, has been tipped to take over from Luciano Spalletti at San Siro following the conclusion of the season.
The ex-Italy manager has not been in charge of a Serie A club since leaving Juve for the national team in 2014 after guiding the Bianconeri to three successive league titles.
Chiellini was a key part of those championship-winning teams and he is uncomfortable with the possibility of Conte coaching one of Juve s major rivals.
I would hate to see him there, but it s part of life, the defender …