00:03Featuring such a wide array of competing nations, the World Cup finals can often throw up matches
00:09with more at stake than group face points or knockout stage progress.
00:13England and Argentina had recently been at war when they faced off in the quarterfinals
00:18of Mexico 86.
00:20The USA and Iran met at France 98 in a clash, dubbed the most politically charged in World
00:26Cup history.
00:27And in 2018, Switzerland's 2-1 group phase victory over Serbia joined that list.
00:34The Swiss team, arguably the greatest in the country's history, was built around two players,
00:40Granit Xhaka and Shredan Shaqiri.
00:43Absolutely.
00:46I think we are the best Switzerland national team that has ever existed with Granit as captain.
00:54Shaqiri was born in Kosovo to Albanian, Kosovar parents.
00:58But when he was a baby, his family fled the regional civil war for the safety of Switzerland.
01:04Shaqiri was born in Switzerland, but like Shaqiri to Kosovo-Albanian parents.
01:10Kosovo is a former Serbian province that unilaterally declared independence in 2008.
01:17Serbia does not officially recognize it as a sovereign state.
01:20This historic tension spilled over at Russia 2018, when Xhaka and Shaqiri scored for Switzerland
01:26against Serbia to secure a 2-1 victory.
01:29Both celebrated their goals by placing their hands into the shape of a double-headed eagle,
01:35a gesture interpreted as a symbol of Albanian nationalism.
01:39It enraged Serbian supporters, and following an investigation, FIFA fined both players 10,000 Swiss francs.
01:47The victory was instrumental in Switzerland, qualifying out of Group E alongside Brazil.
01:52But their tournament ended tamely, with a 1-0 defeat to Sweden in the round of 16.
02:05What happened in 1982 to earn the nickname The Disgrace of Gijon?
02:11The answer up next.
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