Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri could face punishment for their use of an Albanian nationalist symbol to celebrate their goals in Switzerland’s dramatic 2-1 World Cup win over Serbia on Friday. The pair, both of Kosovar-Albanian heritage, turned the Group E meeting in Kaliningrad on its head in the second half, each scoring to earn Switzerland victory after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s early opener. Xhaka, whose father was imprisoned in the former Yugoslavia after protesting for Kosovan independence, celebrated his second-half equaliser by locking his open hands together at the the thumbs and ‘flapping’ his fingers. The gesture resembles – and is understood to be a reference to – the two-headed eagle on Albania’s national flag. Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Show all 25 1 /25 Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Getty Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Serbia AFP/Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Vladimir Stojkovic - 6 out of 10 Produced a good save to deny Dzemaili in the first half, but was left exposed when conceding from Xhaka and Shaqiri in the second. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Branislav Ivanovic - 6 An experienced head at right-back, he notably tired as the game grew old and was unable to offer more support to Tadic. AFP/Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Nikola Milenkovic - 7 The young defender showed plenty of composure in dealing with the direct runs of Shaqiri and Dzemaili. Sergei Fadeichev/TASS Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Dusko Tosic - 5 A solid performance ruined at the last by the misjudgement that allowed Shaqiri a free route to goal. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Aleksandar Kolarov - 6 The match-winner in his side's opener, he contributed less from an attacking perspective here but was solid as ever in defence. AFP/Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Luka Milivojevic - 5 The Crystal Palace man seemed off the pace for much of the the midfield battle, and was eventually subbed. AFP/Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Nemanja Matic - 6 Walked a tight-rope after a first half yellow card which made his second half defensive duties all the more difficult. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Dusan Tadic - 7 Orchestrated much of Serbia's best attacking play, his passing and crossing to Mitrovic especially was a joy. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - 6 The Lazio youngster offered glimpses of his exciting talent, but often tried to do too much to the detriment of his team. AFP/Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Filip Kostic - 5 A frustrated figure on the left flank for large periods, he was at his best in the early stages when doubling up on Lichtsteiner with Kolarov. AFP/Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Aleksandar Mitrovic - 8 Showed off his great strength and work rate in a game where he scored one fine header and should have had a penalty. As ever, he tired towards the end and was booked. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Switzerland Getty Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Yann Sommer - 6 Unconvincing at times in his goalkeeping, pushing the ball back into play more often than he needed to. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Stephan Lichtsteiner - 5 Arsenal's latest signing brought experience to the Switzerland back-line, but not the attacking intent of previous years. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Fabian Schar - 6 Given a tough evening by Mitrovic, but battled on to marshal his defence to victory. Sergei Fadeichev/TASS Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Manuel Akanji - 6 The young defender was pulled around by Serbia's movement but used his pace well to cover any over-enthusiasm. AFP/Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Ricardo Rodriguez - 7 The left-back impressed going forward, and gave Ivanovic no end of problems with his runs in behind. At the other end, he struggled when Tadic was on song. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Valon Behrami - 7 Provided necessary defensive cover during the spells where Serbia dominated. FIFA via Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Granit Xhaka - 7 The Arsenal man dragged his country level with a stunning strike and was a dominant presence in midfield alongside Behrami. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Xherdan Shaqiri - 7 So frustrating at times, he demonstrated once again that he has the brilliance to win any match. Ineffective for long periods, he clipped the post with an audacious effort before his last minute intervention. Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Blerim Dzemaili - 6 A lively figure around the Serbian penalty area, he lacked the instinct and movement to find his way onto the end of Switzerland's best moves. AFP/Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Steven Zuber - 6 Looked to test Stojkovic whenever possible, his finest moments, however, came with clever passes behind the Serbian defence. FIFA via Getty Images Serbia vs Switzerland: Player ratings Haris Seferovic - 4 An anonymous figure in the first half, he was hooked in a half-time change that speared Switzerland's comeback. AFP/Getty Images Shaqiri, who was born in Kosovo and plays with the Kosovan flag stitched into his boots, celebrated in the same manner after scoring a 90th-minute winner. The celebrations run the risk of inflaming tensions between ethnic Albanians and nationalist Serbs in Kosovo and beyond. Kosovo’s Albanian-majority political institutions declared independence from Serbia in 2008. A decade on, Serbia still does not recognise Kosovo’s independence. Xhaka and Shaqiri could face punishment from Fifa, world football’s governing body, if their celebrations are deemed to be displays of political symbols. Jovan Surbatovic, the general secretary of the Football Association of Serbia, said on Saturday that the organisation intends to write a complaint to Fifa regarding the matter. Shaqiri put his reaction to his late winner down to ‘emotion’. “I think in football you have always emotions,” the Stoke City forward said. “You can see what I did and I think it’s just emotion. I’m very happy to score this goal. It’s not more. I think we don’t have to speak about this now.” Vladimir Petkovic, Switzerland’s head coach, suggested his players were caught in the heat of the moment and hoped the celebrations would not detract from his side’s victory. “You should never mix politics and football. It’s clear that emotions show up and that’s how things happen,” he said. “I think we all together need to steer away from politics in football and we should focus on this sport as a beautiful game and something that brings people together.”<doc-sep>Arsenal fans are fully aware of what Granit Xhaka’s capable of with his left-foot, and he demonstrated exactly that for Switzerland in their World Cup clash with Serbia. The Swiss had fallen behind to an early Aleksandar Mitrovic header, but in what was an enthralling encounter in Kaliningrad, both sides had their chances. SEE MORE: Video: Aleksandar Mitrovic hands Serbia dream start with clinical header against Switzerland After Xherdan Shaqiri initially saw his attempt blocked, the ball ran across the box and directly into the path of Xhaka who ran onto it, composed himself and directed a wonderful effort into the back of the net. Having held Brazil to a draw in their last outing, Switzerland will be desperate to take a positive result against Serbia, who opened their World Cup campaign with a win over Costa Rica via an impressive strike of their own through Aleksandar Kolarov. In turn, a defeat for Vladimir Petkovic’s side would be disastrous for their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage, with Brazil beating Costa Rica earlier in the day to sit top of the group for the time being.<doc-sep>
GRANIT XHAKA got Switzerland back on level terms against Serbia with a second half screamer. The Arsenal midfielder hit his first goal of the World Cup when Xherdan Shaqiri's blocked shot fell into his path and his 30-yard drive flew in past Vladimir Stojkovic. 1 Granit Xhaka celebrates goal against Serbia Credit: Reuters Xhaka, 25, has come in for some heavy criticism since moving to the Emirates from Borussia Monchengladbach two years ago and some Arsenal fans have had their say on twitter. Nick Volpe said: "Has Arsenal thought of asking Xhaka to do that for them sometime?" Fiyiin_ad said:"Is this the same xhaka from arsenal? Merenna Wilson added:"All that practice outside the box for Arsenal payed off for Switzerland Funny, there's a Granit Xhaka who plays for Arsenal too. But he'd never be able to do that. — Ian W (@IanDubbleU) June 22, 2018 All that practice outside the box for Arsenal payed off for Switzerland #Xhaka — Merenna Wilson (@merennaw) June 22, 2018 Is this the same xhaka from arsenal? — Sigtryggr, the Orchard Thief. (@fiyinnn___) June 22, 2018 Granit Xhaka used to hit those at Arsenal. I think Wenger stopped him — Kangi wa Kangangi (@FrancisKangangi) June 22, 2018 Has Arsenal thought of asking Xhaka to do that for them sometime? #SUI #WorldCup — nick (@Nick_Volpe) June 22, 2018 Adam Lumley added: "Xhaka if you can do that for Arsenal next season that would be great mate thanks." Before jetting off to Russia, Xhaka's importance to new boss Unai Emery was rewarded with a new long-term contract. Emery said:"I’m delighted that Granit has extended his contract with us. “He’s an important member of the squad and is still young so will be able to develop even more. “I hope he has a successful World Cup with Switzerland and comes back fit and ready for the new season.”