DOHA, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Switzerland and Serbia will battle for last place in Group G in the knockout stages on Friday in a repeat of their 2018 World Cup clash that could reignite political tensions between the teams .

With three points, Switzerland seems well positioned to advance to the last 16 with Brazil. A win over Serbia would guarantee the Swiss a spot in the next round, while a draw would also suffice unless Cameroon manage a surprise win over Brazil, which the case would mean goal difference would be a deciding factor.

Switzerland and Serbia – who, along with Cameroon, need a win to progress – have only met once, in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup. That game will be remembered by fans as one with strong political undertones.

Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, who was born in Basel to ethnic Albanian parents from Kosovo, celebrated his goal against Serbia by forming a double-headed eagle with his hands, an Albanian national symbol found on the Albanian flag.

Xherdan Shaqiri – born in Kosovo, which declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 – added another Swiss goal and repeated Xhaka’s celebration in the 2-1 group stage win, infuriating the Serbian side and prompting world football’s governing body FIFA to ban both players to be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Speaking about the 2018 game, Shaqiri, who missed out on Monday’s 1-0 defeat by Brazil by Brazil due to a muscle strain but is expected to return against Serbia, said the Swiss were in Qatar to play football .

Controversy over Kosovo already permeated Serbia at this World Cup, when FIFA launched proceedings against the country’s federation after allegedly hanging a flag depicting Kosovo as part of their country in the dressing room as they played against Brazil lined up.

The Football Union of Kosovo, which became a member of European football associations UEFA and FIFA in 2016, condemned Serbia’s “aggressive action”.

Reporting by Gabrielle Tétraut-Farber; Editing by Ken Ferris

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