LENS — Fabien Schaer's powerful header gave Switzerland a narrow 1-0 win over 10-man Albania on the second day of the European Championship finals Saturday.
The Group A match, in the spotlight with brothers Granit and Taulant Xhaka playing for opposing sides, was decided by the sending-off of Albania captain Lorik Cana.
The Albanian underdogs were continually scrambling to get back into the game while Switzerland, which now occupies top two spots with France, never took firm control.
After just five minutes, Hoffenheim center back Schaer rose above the Albanian defense to head in from a corner by Stoke City's Xherdan Shaqiri.
The 1.86 meter (6ft 2in) defender makes a habit of scoring for the national side, with five goals in 19 appearances now.
"It hasn't been always easy for me recently," Schaer said after.
"I've come in for a lot of criticism and am of course happy that I could help the team in such a way."
Schaer was also a rock in defense and was booked in the 12th minute for chopping down Emir Lenjani.
"I think we made it difficult for ourselves," said Schaer. "We could have made it easier for ourselves if we had taken our opportunities earlier.
"Afterward we got a bit too passive. There were also a certain amount of nerves at the end. We definitely wanted to keep a clean sheet and because of that we didn't take too many risks at the end."
Albania had its chances. Taulant Xhaka, the elder of the Kosovo-origin brothers, was put clear in the 26th minute but shot well over the top.
Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo had a busy time, dishing out six yellow cards and a red.
He showed a first yellow card to Cana in the 13th minute for sliding in on Haris Seferovic.
Former Marseille player Cana was again in trouble in the 36th minute.
Chasing Seferovic, Cana fell and headed the ball away on the edge of the penalty area and when it bounced flicked it away with his hands.
His protests had no effect. Carballo produced a second yellow and a red.
Albania had several desperate moments, Ergys Kace nearly ripped the shorts off Valon Behrami and then tripped him. That meant another yellow.
Switzerland, which next plays Romania Wednesday, also had its chances but desperate defense and poor finishing meant there were no more goals.
Seferovic was put clear through but his shot went off keeper Berisha. The Swiss player kicked the post in frustration and anger that summed up the match.
Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic called the result "the right first step" in the tournament.
"It wasn't so easy, we were lucky in the end," he acknowledged. "We could have scored a second goal a few times. That's football."
Albania boss Gianni De Biasi said the tension got to his players taking part in their first big tournament.
"We needed a good start and that didn't happen. The pressure got to us and for 20 minutes we were under par."
De Biasi also admitted that Cana deserved his red card.
"The key moments were the goal, the red card — unfortunately it was a very fair sending-off — and three big misses... we didn't have the luck today."
