The Most Controversial World Cup Goal Celebration

When Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri scored the equalising and winning goals for Switzerland against Serbia at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, both players celebrated by performing the double-handed eagle gesture, landing them a hefty fine and causing a minor diplomatic crisis.
Outside of the Balkans, however, few people paid any notice or even really understood what it meant.
So ahead of Switzerland and Serbia meeting in another decisive group stage tie, this time at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, HITC Sevens takes a look at why that celebration in Russia was so controversial, the context behind it, and the build-up to this game.

[@fabianschuerch]

Hillariously, in this game at the wc 2018, not only did Xhaka and Shaqiri celebrate with this gesture, but also Stephan Lichtsteiner (the most swiss swiss person you‘ll ever likely to see) in support for the other 2 getting boo‘d through the whole game. He was the captain of the swiss nationalteam and this was almost a bigger story in the country than the other 2 doing it. Fun-Fact

[@lalitthapa101]

Aflie's love for football and willingness to talk about politics is a better love story than Twilight

[@sultanahmed-vj1mj]

Not hard twilight is shit

[@nyasha_ish]

To be fair football is politically, its just we never see it (coz its run in the background) unless they is an obvious protest like Pride or BLM but in truth Football is run by far worse Politics that seek to benefit from the global attraction of the Sport. So in short Alfie dive into the politics is freaking grt

[@lalitthapa101]

@@nyasha_ish yes I agree. What I meant with my comment was that not many football content creators are comfortable with addressing the politics that's so attached with football. So seeing Alfie be willing to address It and that too on several occasions is great. We can't just ignore something that affects not only the sport but every section of the society

[@1998Cebola]

Considering the average intelligence of football youtubers I am happy they don't, it takes someone actually being able to pick apart a complex issue for it to work.

[@gejamugamlatsoomanam7716]

Batman vs Superman is a better love story than twilight

[@christophersegoviano579]

I came here right after the 2-3 Switzerland win

[@Isyoursuadiboy]

same

[@NickyG_vz]

Man that's why Shaquiri was on such a mission today

[@ajax5472]

He delivered.

[@christophergarbis1444]

He's a loser...

[@ajax5472]

@@christophergarbis1444 loll your team didn’t make it don’t be mad.

[@borutosdad633]

Yeah but its kinda weird how its a bit obvious that hes doing it to infuriate them and bring up politics to a friendly soccer game. I don't like the political direction soccer/football is going.

[@christophergarbis1444]

@@borutosdad633 you're 100 percent correct...then fifa wonders why the fans start saying crazy stuff or fights break out. It's funny how Serbia is always blamed for it.

[@fahim113]

As someone who studied Balkan history for years i gotta say this is fantastic stuff. Very informative and well told

[@MichaelSnyder1776]

Any good books to recommend?

[@rogyn8484]

Then you are bad student. Tell me what in this video he said was accurate? Faking information and deliberately switching facts excluding important information even non mentioning the most important moments.

[@camyd1043]

@@rogyn8484 serb moment

[@fahim113]

@@rogyn8484 Serb much? 😃

[@vsvishal8853]

@@rogyn8484 what false info did he say? Im curious to hear both sides as I dont know as much about this issue

[@lemigod4475]

Thank you Alfie for educating us on this big story that many of us were unaware of,so when ever we seen tension between Serbia and Switzerland we will know why.I love this channel due to its many Geopolitical documentaries.

[@gent9896]

I really hope one day people will understand how evil serbia is as a country. It's a russian supporter after all, i don't wanna promote hate and YES i am from Kosovo but just know this. After WW2 Germany moved on and at least apologized the people on this earth of what they caused, serbia on the other side let alone milion and bilion of crimes they commited through the history but the ugly truth is that they haven't been punished yet, justice is not done here and they didn't even apologize for killing milions of unarmed civilians. To anybody who reads this, serbia and its people are mental i've met serbian people and no matter the age they have this kind of mentality to hate and kill. But as you saw today ... it only takes 2 Albanians from Kosovo to shut their mouths promoting racism and violence.

[@mislavivkovic9996]

I am Croatian I want new Yugoslavia when Croats and Albanians have a full control over military and police and secret service

[@nonamedbuc]

@@mislavivkovic9996 ajde mali mani se, nisio ni dozivio rata

[@mislavivkovic9996]

@@nonamedbuc 1 nisam Mali 2 bio Sam 40 mjeseci

[@tijnjansen858]

You type like a chatbot AI

[@dapperduck4250]

I love that Alfie isn't afraid to talk politics and sport because he also understands that sports have been intrinsically tied to politics since the founding of the Olympics in ancient Greece or the coliseums and chariot races of Rome. Are sports better without politics? Absolutely. But at least Alfie doesn't shy away from the inconvenient truth. Much respect.

[@phightinphil25]

Well, I think its pretty hard to even state that last point as almost anything can be deemed as political. It completely depends on what definition of politics you quote, and your own personal beliefs. Inherently politics doesn't have be be a negative its various humans and their actions that make other humans form opinions. We are dealing with the grayest of gray areas.

[@abhirupan7630]

Thank you. People seem to ignore politics ingrained in football until it comes to political things they don’t like And then suddenly, it becomes “keep politics out of football”

[@reintaler6355]

You cannot say "sports are better without politics" when it's impossible for you to picture that possibility. Trust me, it's impossible

[@BigPurp9]

It’s funny because I do miss the days of innocence when I blindly supported England as a kid. But now as an adult with the more I’ve learned about Nigeria and the shit I’ve experienced living here I can’t bring myself to root for England anymore.

[@dapperduck4250]

@@reintaler6355 that's a totally fair point!

[@nonamedbuc]

As a ethnic bosnian Serb,you are totally right,dont fret about the delusional serbs who will be flooding your comment section.Kosovo has the right to independence,like it or not.As a war child,I can relate more to the displaced Kosovars than to the power-hungry serbian aggresors.The serbian people unfortunately are brainwashed by the state-issued nationalistic propagnda and are incapable of hearing any different opionion.As i said,touchy subject,you did really well documenting it and i respect you for choosing to cover it.

[@shufflinkat6085]

Well said 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@kevincika]

The best comment we needed to read

[@patinho5589]

Every single human has right to independence. We should have 8 billion nation states.. one for each person. Or one big world of peace and love.

[@Srbenda126]

@@patinho5589 What about Donbass?

[@patinho5589]

@@Srbenda126 who or what is Donbass?

[@mrmorrison5142]

As usual, Alfie has done it again. I don’t know how he has the time to do these in-depth researchers. I do fully respect that he takes the time out to do this though. Thank you very much Alfie. We look forward to every post from you and in the future, we look forward to seeing the channel keep growing the controversy aside.

[@gothicgolem2947]

It’d his job i think so I’m sure that helps as he can do it durning a work day

[@VishTheF1Guy]

Fantastic video Alfie, love how you can seemlessly mix history politics and football together, please keep making more of these videos

[@gerjerry99]

As a History undergraduate who keenly observes political affairs, and is also a lifelong football fan, this combination is truly a dream

[@bobanbobanic919]

As someone who went through the the war after the collapse of Yugoslavia i have to say that everything you said here is true, and am surprised that you are so well informed about this. And even though i am not Albanian, while watching the game and how players from Kosovo were booed throughout the entire game, i was so glad that both of them scored, and not just that but that Shaqiri scored the second goal on such a way and in 90th minute. Also something interesting to add. While Serbian team was prepairing for a trip to Russia, Serbian president said to the team that he wishes them luck and good result, and especially that they have to beat Switzerland. Obviously you know why he said that, because of Albanians in their team.

[@dankeman5266]

I‘m from Switzerland and - as you can imagine - many swiss conservatives critisized and vilifyied Xhaka and Shaqiri for their celebration, questioning their alliance to Switzerland. I find conservatives getting triggered quite funny, even though especially Xhaka again had to face a lot of backlash and hate, wich was sad to see. Personally I believe it‘s perfectly fine to have one heart for two countries. Serbians really trashed and disrespected our Swiss-Albanian boys through media prior to the game, so I was happy to see them getting redemption. Also very good banter.

[@almamater489]

If they wanna represent like that, they should probably play for Albania?

[@matthieudufourcq7873]

⁠@@almamater489if you wanted them to represent Kosovo, your Srpska daddies shouldn’t have committed war crimes forcing them into exile. You lack the ability to use contextual thinking, and it shows

[@smelly1060]

Not only that but all the passion in the world for Switzerland will not make that situation any less sweeter, I'm sure they did that for their grandparents and relatives rather than themselves ​@@matthieudufourcq7873

[@Vickzq]

It has nothing to do with _evil conservatives._ If you were honest, even the manager told them to stop crap like that.

[@finnb2318]

@@matthieudufourcq7873 Your father should have played a more prominent role in your life. Same for OP. Sad, innit?

[@mattthompson9395]

Incredibly well researched and presented video on a fascinating and complicated subject. Great job HITC

[@maladvojka8376]

xd 'incredibly well researched'

[@reverse5163]

All i saw was sad Albanian story....You KNOW there are always 2 sides of the medal?

[@jovancvetojevic3980]

This probably is his worst researched video ever.

[@deusvult8808]

@@reverse5163 Usually there is 2 sides of medal. But when it comes to Serbia vs anyone, that Serbia side disappear magically.

[@rishabh3150]

This channel has given me more insight about historical and political conflicts than other sources... keep it up..

[@n1kola9]

It's false though

[@cronutism]

@@n1kola9 How so?

[@n1kola9]

@@cronutism It's heavily glorifying one side and demonizing the other. You can support whichever side you want, but please, don't based your opinion on one-sided video. It is much more complicated than that, and I do think that he even maybe took the wrong side here.

[@ilovemymommysponies]

@@n1kola9 could you explain how it’s false

[@n1kola9]

@@ilovemymommysponies I expressed myself incorrectly. It would be too long for me to explain it, it is much more complicated than this. It could legit take hours. But yeah, I think that he didn't mention a lot of stuff, it's missing a lot, and it's so one-sided. He did say a lot of things that are true, but his conclusion are based on his opinions, which are incorrect. If you actually want to get into this (I don't recommend it, it's horrible), you would really have to read/watch a lot.

[@joshvasquez1193]

Alfie, I know many people do not like to mix politics & sport but most of the time it is inevitable. Every time i watch one of your videos i genuinely learn something new & it’s refreshing. You tackle these controversial topics head on while others tend to shy away & i applaud you for that. Keep up the good work & cheers from the states!

[@archstanton6102]

Love the hypocrisy of FIFA for investigating and potentially fining Mexico crowd for homophobic chants in WC, yet holding the tournament in Qatar.

[@TheAlien101]

Serbian fans have been chatting "Kill the Albanians" in 2018 and again in 2022 yet what did FIFA do ...

[@bjehulk]

Facts. They should let Mexico continue their chant

[@archstanton6102]

@@bjehulk They got knocked put of the WC. Try and keep up.

[@bjehulk]

@@archstanton6102 They do the chant at every game, not just the World Cup. Just admit you don’t watch football pal

[@archstanton6102]

@@bjehulk Not your pal - wouldn't piss on you, if you were on fire. Where did I state they don't chant this at every game? The charge was from fifa focusing on the WC . Why not get an adult to help you with comprehension and understanding difficult and grown-up topics?

[@lkrnpk]

Many people also forget that after the the Croat win over Russia Domagoj Vida who played club football in Ukraine said “Slava Ukraine” who pissed off a lot of Russians back then too

[@splicoo1950]

🇭🇷🇺🇦❤✌

[@bombkart5114]

Yeah,nazis stick together

[@danbambatten]

Absolutely needed this video, and didn't know til I had watched it. Thanks as always, Alfie!

[@myevokebab]

Yet another well researched and informative video from you. Always look forward to your content

[@whatdidido3838]

Serbians just lost again And never messed up with the ALBOSS ALBANIANS ARE ALWAYS THE WINNERS THESE MILLENIUM ❤️🇦🇱❤️🇽🇰❤️🇦🇱❤️

[@rogyn8484]

Whenever Serbia plays against Albania you lost match in any sport. Last time I remember we beat you in the middle of Tirana, that was Albania - Serbia match. This is not Albania but Swiss if they are so great Albanian patriots why they not leave Swiss team and join Albanian squad? Last match was female Basketball Serbia - Albania 139:34, do you wish to check any other sport?

[@whatdidido3838]

@@rogyn8484 🤡👺

[@alyjam]

@@rogyn8484 We Swiss are proud to have players with albanian roots that help us kick serbia out of the world cup....again! :D

[@rogyn8484]

@@alyjam Sure, that is why half of the Swiss news are asking are they representing Albania or Swiss and requesting punishment for their behaviors. When they play for Albania and give up of their passports we can talk further, last time Serbia had match against Albania in any sport we devastate them including football in the middle of Tirana.

[@labki69]

As a citizen of Kosovo 🇽🇰 I am Ethnic Albanian and we all support Shaqiri and Xhaka because they are our brothers in blood. You told the story so well, just as my grandparents told the story of Kosovo Albanians to me. Big respect towards you Alfie and love to all Albanians worldwide from USA to Europe down to Australia

[@Nidzadrugar]

That says a lot about objective approach from the author.

[@theheat9073]

@@Nidzadrugar Why do Serbs always hold a hostility towards Albanians? Lol

[@Nidzadrugar]

@@theheat9073 Serbs let them live in Kosovo and they returned by stealing the land. "Lol"

[@labki69]

@@Nidzadrugar negative, if you search for Ethnic Albanian Flag you can see that that flag contains Albania, Kosovo, some land in Montenegro, Macedonia, Greece and Serbia. In 1912 Albania requested to have the borders like that but the EU Conference held in London if I’m not wrong didn’t approve, ok this decision had hand, Russia ally of Serbia which didn’t approve. If you go in Nish Serbia there are a lot of Albanians even inside the border of Serbia, this is because from the early ages back in Ilyrians which are our ascendants, they had the most territory in Balkan region and then history continues.

[@labki69]

@@Nidzadrugar Also Kosovo wasn’t given to Albanians from Serbia, we fought for it.

[@MrShakeyBlake]

Yours is the type of thought provoking and informative content we desperately need more of in the football space. Thanks for sharing these stories stories with us.

[@EnjaeGreg]

Great video Alfie. Been meaning to learn about the conflicts in this region and what this celebration meant. Thanks for this. Gonna go down a rabbit hole now.

[@criscurtean]

Great video Alfie! Growing up in the United States with a lot of ethnic Serbs and Albanians in my community, this video gave me a better perspective on how the conflict came to be. Keep up the great content

[@milostanaskovic9172]

It was not a Kosovo flag that was displayed at 2014 euro game, it was an Greater Albania flag, maybe that doesnt seem significant but there is a big diference.

[@leo130202]

Exactly, it’s a very important detail which Alfie fails to mention…🤔

[@MrNeko92]

​@@leo130202 He unfortunately forgots to mention a lot of other details too, antagonizing one side and glorifying the other, making a good excuse and story for the match, but disregarding the history.

[@1998Cebola]

@@MrNeko92 yeah, why didn't he mention the massive genocide kosovo perpetrated against serbs while denying then independence that has displaced serbs from their home lands, oh right, yeah, because there is one aggresive, imperialist force in the conflict.

[@vladislavbg9307]

@Nejtack Albanians burned churches and killed Serbs. KLA is a terrorist organization and Usa admitted it. Nato terror campaign in Jugoslavija is the same as the current russian bombings of Ukraine infrastructure

[@jovansesum7955]

The same greater Albania flag is known as a symbol of hate speech not just for Serbians but for most of the Balkans and is basically the fascist nationalistic flag of Albania

[@Raptorizus]

As an Albanian from Kosovo, this is truly one of the better videos I've seen regarding our conflict. Most videos made from an outsider's perspective end up falling victim to the relentless Serbian propaganda out there, but this video covered everything in detail and was 100% truth. Great job as always Alfie!

[@avepe6094]

Eh, usually it's the other way around

[@TPO7.]

Nobody does a thing when Serbia does 3 fingers lmao

[@vrocco1395]

3 finger salute is done to show pride, Xhaka and Shaqiri did the eagle to provoke, they knew they were playing against Serbia and are well aware of what they did

[@shhshdjsbsihdjdjejs1288]

Fr

[@TPO7.]

@@vrocco1395 No it doesn’t represent pride, its the opposite, the pride you mention is by representing 3 autonomous provinces with the 3 fingers, serbia, Vojvodina, and kosovo, thats nationalism. That’s also why you have Albanians who do two fingers back, representing Albania and Kosovo. Don’t lie.

[@vrocco1395]

@@TPO7. the 3 fingers is an originally orthodox salute, representing the trinity, father, son and holy spirit. nothing to do with serbia vojvodina and kosovo, maybe these lies are what Kurti tells you on the news

[@kevincika]

@@vrocco1395 wowowowowo. Pride of raping children. If yes, idk what to say. And calling an eagle symbol as provokation pfff

[@sherifdarrag9464]

I was kinda disappointed Shaqiri didn't do the eagle celebration when he scored against the serbs again in 2022. I find it very empowering when him and xhaka do that! His family and countrymen have been through so much and that's a great way to shed light on the horrors that occurred among their people. Serbia needs a chill pill

[@danny9114]

And those scummy kosovars never did anything to deserve this, right? They didn't attack, kill, kidnap any Serb, right? What have they been through that's so tragic?

[@alyjam]

@@danny9114 The serbs have lost any sympathy at this point. Denying genocide doesn't look good on you.

[@deusvult8808]

@@alyjam What "genocide". The west accused us of so many "genocides" that at this point I don't know are you talking about Bosnia "genocide", or Srebrenica "genocide" or kosovo "genocide"? Please next time say what exact "genocide" are you talking about. Ty in advance 🤗🤗 -Fellow bosnian "genocidal" Serb

[@MONKEYDCOLD]

@@deusvult8808 NPC🤡

[@corenko]

No one likes us and that's why we don't like anyone @@alyjam

[@maksneto]

Very excited to see the level-headed comments from the residents of the Balkan region.

[@billmiller2368]

Or unflinching gaslighting!

[@historian3290]

Shaqiri did it again 🦅 💪🏽

[@TripleRMovers]

Great video. I'm from Hessle, Hull living in the Gold Coast, Australia. You do all Hullensians proud. Keep up the good work. I sincerely think you're the best football journalist / football short documentary producer out there.

[@rodrigofonseca6241]

Praising the terrorists from KLA (UÇK): a new low for Alfie and its HITC SEVENS.

[@leylamohamed7950]

One of the most entertaining group stages in the world ever.... No one on earth predicted Japan topping a group with Germany and Spain and Morocco topping a group with Belgium and Croatia, this World Cup is one for the history books man...😭😭🤣🤣

[@bababababababa6124]

I’m so happy European teams are getting humbled, if only Costa Rica won that game against Germany then Spain would also be going home 😂

[@JoeCool90]

Beligum and Croatia are ancient I expected that - i do admit i was a little surprised by Japan though

[@oliverleonard7730]

So far this is shaping up to be one of the best World Cups of all time.

[@oliverleonard7730]

@@bababababababa6124 Or if Australia had held on against France.

[@bababababababa6124]

@@oliverleonard7730 hopefully Serbia or Switzerland go home tonight too 😂

[@daveboon5992]

This will go on for Generation after Generation 😢😢😢😢

[@vl6619]

This is going to be a fierce game tonight

[@simovicmarko]

Just as I thought not a single word of terror against Serbian people. Must say I am not surprised.

[@loudseik9997]

Poor Serbs, oppressing and murdering everyone around them for 10 years. How dare people defend themselves. The fact that you are still excusing your actions shows the true side of Serbia. If there was no NATO Serbs would start shit al over again.

[@Lgx-ie4if]

Oh no do the people you oppressed not like you 😢

[@simovicmarko]

@@loudseik9997 If you read my comment you can see I never said Serbs didn't do horible things and I never gave and excuse. All I am saying is he never once mentoned the horrible things commited at my people. At least he could have mentoned what happened in 2004. I am sick and tired of the Serbs bad agenda where only we were bad and the others were good and meant no harm. People did a lot of atrocities during the war and only blaming Serbs is insane and wrong.

[@loudseik9997]

​@@simovicmarko You dont give excuses directly, but saying that blame is equal on everyones part is absurd (because of these attempts to equate everything, blaming of the Serbs still happens, people dont want it to be forgotten and swept under the rug) Everything that happened to all peoples of the Balkans in the 90s (including the Serbs) was the Serbs fault. They are the ones that wanted to force other nations into submission and started all the shit. You can thank Milosevic for everything. You Serbs shouldnt have followed that genocidal maniac.

[@simovicmarko]

@@loudseik9997 Again if you read my comments I never said the blame was equal. You constanly have to make stuff up to bring a poing. So again I never said Serbs were inocent nor that I excuse it or that it was equal all I am saying is he never mentoned what was done to my people. And in a video trying to explain a situation I think bringing that up is important. So I like to improve a line from your comment. Saying the blame is equal is absurd but so is blaming everything on Serbs.

[@abasudoh7459]

I remember that game, and looking forward to this one too. It's about to get heated.

[@mizzyys262]

Some of the best content on KZbin, thank you so much for your videos 👏🏻

[@flamurtarinegjakyt3745]

👐🏼 means Albania. That's all. It is a celebration, plenty of patriotic passion. Nothing controversial.

[@CaseyRedgrave]

I understand them hating the Serbs, however, literally the older half of the Croatian squad were also children of that war and they don't hate Serbs. Modric, best example, watched his grandfather get executed and still doesn't hate Serbia.

[@VillaFanDan92]

This was really fascinating. I really appreciate how much historical context you give in these videos. Also, a suggestion for when the World Cup is over and we're looking at the FA Cup: The Aston Villa team that had to play against Liverpool when all of the first team had COVID. Where are they now three years later?

[@dantenicastro9617]

Wow 3 years already

[@dea846]

Dead

[@marcmonnerat4850]

The Nati captain, Lichtsteiner also did the eagle-gesture.

[@Владимир-с7в3у]

17:34 *Greater Albania flag* Big difference. That was a flag of a fascist ideology, not Kosovo or "normal" Albania

[@leo130202]

I’m sorry, but the ‘Albanian flag’ that interrupted the game in 2014 was not just that. It was a flag showing the concept of Greater Albania, which is highly contraversial and a sign og the exact extreme nationalism, you describe Serbia having portrayed… I’m sorry Alfie, but this detail was very important, and you glossed over it very lightly… Also, you failed to mention that the Albanians came to Kosovo during the Titos reign in the 60s and 70s, and that the Serbs simultaniously were forced to move… I understand that this topic is highly contentious, but that is the exact reason why it’s important to present it in a objective an nuanced way…

[@MrThhg]

i support Albania

[@JustAlice_Mai]

just another day in the balkans to me

[@uhAngell]

I find it so funny how you watched this whole video and all you got from it was that one incident where a right wing ultra nationalist went to a game in Serbia showing a flag. Just like how Serbs always mention that one time Dua Lipa posted a picture of it on her story. Like do you really think that someone like Dua knows anything about politics in the slightest? Did you not watch the rest of the video? Like yes, we obviously agree that it is bad but come the fuck on they literally do not compare in the slightest to the oppression Albanians have and are STILL experiencing to this day in Kosovo. Be realistic and stop pulling at straws,

[@1998Cebola]

@@uhAngell no but you don't understand, the entire world is against serbia and serbians, the most oppressed people in the world, who can't even do a little ethnic cleansing without everyone losing their minds.

[@uhAngell]

@@1998CebolaExactly lmao. I’m so tired of Serbs being like “both sides did bad things” when the “things” they come with is the showing of a fucking ultranationalist flag during a football game. SERBS HAVE ALWAYS DONE THIS TOO. Fast forward 4 years later and now it’s the players showing a ultranationalist flag in THEIR OWN FUCKING CHANGING ROOM. THE PLAYERS THEMSELVES!!! NOT A FAN OR SOME SHIT!!!

[@thedarkside13]

3:57 wrong. There were 5 Albanian players. Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami (11), Blerim Dzemaili (15) and Admir Mehmedi (18).

[@petesmart1983]

Mehmedi and dzemaili are Macedonian

[@thedarkside13]

@@petesmart1983 they're Albanians from North Macedonia. Get your facts straight.

[@defacto7101]

And erdon jashari from north macedonia

[@zackhebert8265]

Yugoslavia was dismantled by FIFA because it would win too many World Cups

[@kl6544]

No slavic country has ever won the world cup

[@BB-vh8cj]

@@kl6544 ussr won euro

[@kl6544]

@@BB-vh8cj did i mention the euro?

[@BB-vh8cj]

@@kl6544 fair,but they still won a important throphy

[@thefallenvalley4340]

So Serbs got offended when an Albanian did an " I am proud to be Albanian" sign? You see the ignorance here? They don't want Albanians to exist.

[@diablejambe3460]

As a half taiwanese who gets the struggle for wanting freedom/keeping our way of life (mostly just leaving us the fuck alone), im here for kosovo. While im not all that familiar with the intricacies of it all, but what i do know and understand is wanting to have ur own way of life preserved, in the kind of country u want. Which wont be possible for us, but hey, good luck to u guys on this political side of things.

[@howgoodistravel]

Most Alfie sentence ever - "In 1389..."

[@dinohermann1887]

Albanians existed way before that year. The principality of Arbanon for example predates the battle of Kosovo by almost 200 years (starting in 1190, to be exactly). So the idea, that the Ottomans brought us from the Caucasus region just because there was a region called "Albania" as well, which is now modern day Azerbaijan, is laughable!

[@kotrljajucaharinga9622]

17:29 it wasn't a kosovo flag, it was a flag of "greater albania", which is very much a flag that is used in ultranationalistic circles.

[@Radek494]

Wake me up when Albania actually plays against Serbia in WC. Not just Swiss team that happens to have 2 Albanians.

[@Elliot-T]

What a messy world we live in

[@yaldabaoth2]

That's what happens when you have foreigners play for your national team solely based on what passport they might or might not possess.

[@seandelap8587]

Japan topping a group with Spain and Germany in it and Germany getting eliminated at the group stage for 2 successive tournaments who would have seen that happening

[@therealuncleowen2588]

I'll summarize my understanding of Tito's methods for maintaining a unified Yugoslavia. "I know you all hate each other. If ANY group starts fighting another or fighting to break away, I will destroy them, and you know damn well the other ethnicities within the armed forces will be all too happy to carry out even the most brutal orders against you." He must have been one terrifying and impressive individual. Say what you want about him and his methods, he kept things calm for over 30 years. I live in an area where refugees from virtually every ethnic group migrated during the breakup and I've asked numerous folks about Tito. I've yet to meet anyone from that region who doesn't still admire him.

[@seanjones2524]

To be fair, as someone that has no connection with anybody from countries of the former Yugoslavia, it wasn't entirely Serbia that targeted civilians. Serbian civilians were also targeted throughout the Yugoslav Wars. The issue is other ethnicities seem to been targeted more, with Bosnian, Albanian and Kosovar victims being higher. That gives a false narrative that it was entirely Serbs who targeted civilians and committed war crimes, Serb victims are overlooked, and fuels the feeling of victimhood and mistrust of the West that Serbs have.

[@Srbenda126]

All sides had war criminals but Serbia is the only one that gets blamed because it went against NATO interests

[@Iamneverright]

Thanks again for a great upload Alfie, and thumbs up for so many intelligent comments I have read about it!!

[@samvanderplas8970]

As a comparison. Imagine 200.000 belgians moving into the Ruhr region in Germany. Not only a economic, but also a culturally important place to germans, and then those 200.000 belgians want "independence for the Ruhr region" while flying a Belgian flag while Belgium, is not that far away and they can just go back. Then imagine the UN immediately deciding to nationalize Ruhr country as an actual country and there is absolutely nothing you are allowed to do against is while these belgians take that important land away from you despite them moving in there in the last 50 years. Not saying Genocide is okay, war crimes were committed everywhere in that region by most armies, but saying Serbia doesnt at least have a valid point would be unfair.

[@lorenzovonmatterhorn7402]

That is true. Today they do the same in Montenegro and North Macedonia... USA and EU allowed them to do whatever they like.

[@agronillyrian8684]

same milosevic propaganda

[@samvanderplas8970]

@@agronillyrian8684 historical fact. How milosevic weaponized that history to fuel violence and nationalism (something literally every balkan leader does) is terrible but it's history all the same

[@mirgenrobo6394]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 stop getting high on acid buddy

[@sietsedegroot5198]

Incredibly well done, once again, thanks Alfie

[@natodefends2321]

The Albanians Granit Xhaka & Xherdan Shaqiri beat Serbia again.

[@vrocco1395]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legitimacy_of_the_NATO_bombing_of_Yugoslavia

[@mou6854]

@@vrocco1395 it was legitimate the only problem was we didn’t invade and denazify Serbia

[@vrocco1395]

@@mou6854 legitimate? unironic violation of the geneva convention but sure go off

[@mou6854]

@@vrocco1395 tell me how the serbs treated bosnian and albanian pow's again. Very anti geneca convention

[@tonyvila7141]

Whats so controversial about showing your pride of your family roots???

[@balkan2pac]

As an Albanian, this is a really good video

[@denisdogic8342]

My father was a Bosnian man who grew up in Yugoslavia. He described it to me as the most beautiful life you could imagine. Tito kept everyone together and kept the people of Yugoslavia first on his priorities. When he died everything went to shit and started the war. My people were massacred across the country but for what reason? My father tells me that even he didn’t know what he was fighting for. I can see the similarities between what happened then and what is happening now between the people of Kosovo and Serbia. So let the Albanians support their territory as it is truly theirs. And let them celebrate how they would like.

[@naville82]

True story! Im Swiss and this was a huge victory for us as we support tremendously our boys who we adopted!

[@arrore]

@@fourtwenty4ever here comes brainy rob being a rat..

[@timotheematos44]

@@fourtwenty4ever explanations plz

[@politicallyincorrect2564]

Is not controversial, it was just the answer to racial chants and insults from Serbia.

[@1998Cebola]

It shouldn't be, I agree, but it definetly was, proved by the fact that they were fined.

[@quincyprobes]

How can you invoke racial chants to people of, in the grand scheme of things, the virtually same race?

[@politicallyincorrect2564]

@@quincyprobes same race? What do you mean? I used racial having in mind ethnic backgrounds.

[@quincyprobes]

@@politicallyincorrect2564 why would you use the term racial as a substitute for ethnic, other than to incite more response and reaction value to the issue..

[@politicallyincorrect2564]

@@quincyprobes yiu are playing with words, I don't have time to play your political "correctness " games.

[@forg_tful.]

also, many people said it but i'll say it again, that drone flag in 2014 is NOT the flag of albania, it's the flag of the ultranationalistic "greater albania" where albanians want to claim territories of multiple surrounding countries, including serbia, greece, north macedonia etc. it's a clear and blatant provocation and is actually exactly what you're claiming serbs are doing. it's much more important and sinister than the way you painted it. that's why more research - by asking people actually involved with both sides of such a big political question - matters.

[@yvltc]

The very important difference is that that flag was not used by the Albania NT players or staff, unlike the Serbian flag. It was flown over a stadium in Serbia, for a crowd of only Serbians (because Albanians weren't allowed to attend that match) and Serbian fans were the ones allowed in the pitch to beat the players with chairs. Sounds like a Serbia problem to me.

[@forg_tful.]

@@yvltc sounds like you know nothing about the subject, more like. and have a very active imagination too.

[@sonjahoxha]

Keep whining serb, the flag of Ethnic Albania is not claiming any foreign land. The flag of ethnic albania is claiming the lands that were inhabited by Albanians since many centuries. Albania's borders today were decided by other people in the London conference and they left more than half the Albanian population outside the borders in 1912. That's why North Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece and Serbia even have Albanian minorities. It's why Kosovo exists. Albanian don't want to be ruled by other people. But i don't have to prove that to you, everyone knows that Serbia was an expansionist nation who had issues with everyone up to the 90s.

[@forg_tful.]

@@sonjahoxha you really think i'm gonna listen to the delusions of someone who's clearly albanian and lying in broad daylight about the flag?

[@yvltc]

@@forg_tful. please tell me where I'm wrong then. Albanians were not allowed to attend unless they did not carry any Albanian paraphernalia - fact Serbians chanted "kill the Albanians" - fact Serbians attacked Albanian players - fact The drone wasn't flown in by the Albanian players - fact The Serbia flag incident this week directly involved the Serbian national team - fact Keep denying your Srebrenicas though, I don't care if you believe the truth or not.

[@jovanlazarevic4339]

Watching this video, as a Serb, i can at least say that i appreciated the effort that was put up for the making of this video, up until the 19th minute. Up until that point the video lacked only small parts of the story and got some facts wrong, like that drone flag being the Kosovan flag. For those of you wondering it wasn't, it was the flag of the so called 'Greater Albania', which claims the neighboring territories of Greece, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia. From that point onwards, the narrative was less and less shaped by facts and got very subjective, to say the least. Even disregarding those 'mistakes', (if at all possible) this video couldn't have possibly succeed in doing justice to the whole story in less than 30 minutes. It almost makes me wonder if the whole purpose of it was to push a certain narrative.

[@donvondondon5254]

Yes i was a bit confused by the drone flag statement. Neitherless, it is well reserched and puts the hole controversy in perspective. Making a symbol of heritage against booing spectators with some of them wearing shirts of convicted mass murderers is just the same as celebraring with a finger in front of the mouth or a hand behind the ear. It is provocative, and professionaly wrong to do in my opinion but it isnt in any way moraly or ethicly wrong. But i am biased in this regard.

[@donvondondon5254]

Alfie did research a lot and it may or may not be influenced by „western narrative“ The flag thing was a slip-up, but to be honest, i couldnt see the difference between bolivia and brazil on a map either, if i wasnt actually informed or a citizen of one of both countries.

[@jovanlazarevic4339]

@@donvondondon5254 If it was only the flag, then yes, but that wasn't the only problem i have with this video. I don't like that phrase 'western narrative', i am not trying to push the 'serbian narrative', i am just trying to be as objective as i can be, and i can appreciate only the person that tries to do the same as I, and that can't be said for the author of this video who is clearly a victim of extreme biases.

[@1998Cebola]

There was a strong narrative, which was that the Serbian genocide was wrong, and doing a few hand gestures to honor the victims should be endorsed by anyone that agrees that genocide is wrong.

[@jovanlazarevic4339]

@@1998Cebola Genocide in Srebrenica has nothing to do with the war in Kosovo and therefore nothing to do with the hand gesture which i attribute to an act of defiance, and I am all for that given the stadium atmosphere.

[@forg_tful.]

well, after watching.. while i do love your work, i wish you didn't do this video in such a one sided way and added the other non-western non-albanian perspective because serbs are not a monolith and aren't randomly angry or scared by ghosts that will "potentially" attack them when it comes to that territory. they were the majority people on it for many centuries before things changed and our churches started getting burned... for starters. just saying.

[@1998Cebola]

Lmao poor you, can't even commit a genocide without being criticised

[@forg_tful.]

@@1998Cebola i did no such thing. and neither did my whole country.

[@uhAngell]

@@forg_tful.Ah yes, you’re a genocide denier too. Who saw that one coming!

[@forg_tful.]

@@uhAngell ah, you're a negatively charged biased person who reads my comments the way they want to read them instead of how they were intended, who could have seen that one coming. since you're looking for all my comments, find my third one, i can't wait for your commentary on that!

[@uhAngell]

@@forg_tful. The way I want to read them? Did you not intend to say that Serbs did not genocide the people around them then? When that actually did happen? Also stop acting like I’m actively looking for your comments when there is not even that many comments on this video 😭😭😭. You’re not that important sorry :(

[@kiriakoz]

This is not just a good video, this was exceptional. Thank you for educating me. I love mixing football and politics. Whenever I travel, I always want to know about the local footie club, their rivalries, why their rivals (religion, class, politics etc) and it's facinating to me.

[@maladvojka8376]

this is not a good video, its very very biased

[@kiriakoz]

@@maladvojka8376 are you sure you're not the biased one? That sounds awfully like a balkan name you have there.

[@maladvojka8376]

@@kiriakoz no im not the biased one, I didnt deny anything in the video, he just presented one side

[@WERTYUIO821]

@@kiriakoz It is a very biased and rushed video. 17:24 for example you can easily see it is not a Kosovo flag but a nationalist "Greater Albania" flag that includes land of all of their population. Alfie unfortunately rushed the video because of the Swiss vs Serbia game. Even NATO's attacks to Serbia were far from a actually helpful, coming from a person of a country that is in NATO, NATO's attacks were war crimes on their own.

[@unholyxeras8182]

@@maladvojka8376 hard to imagine what the other side of the serbian military amongst other things executing civilians, including children, in a prolonged massacre that was ultimately only stopped by NATO directly getting involved, demilitarizing the area and enforcing a peace process is, but i'lll bite. Whats the other side of the story? What justifies that?

[@billbill3634]

I remember Lichtsteiner also did the eagle celebration, for solidarity or for more chaos

[@jasperlawrence5361]

more excellent video action!!!! thank you, you deserve a larger audience.

[@maxchan9537]

And Shaqiri scores against Serbia again

[@raybp7512]

this was a great vid full of context. im sure that people will nitpick various facets of the history but im sure the video wouldve been 10 hours if you included everything

[@Filip-ew9et]

Alfie I am Serbian , I love your videos a lot , but this video was a little one sided and i think you didn't explain the situation the best , which is understandable because you are not from the Balkans.Both sides did terible things to each other during the 90s and believe me no normal person is proud of what happend , but in this video you painted the picture like us Serbians are the devil himself and we are getting what we ,,deserve". I think you failed to mention that Uck was a terrorist organization , that the NATO bombing was illegal in many difernet ways (they bombed a hospital for exemple) and how many churches were destroyed. I am saying all this things because does are some of the reasons why serbians were angry with there celebrations. We are always painted like the bad guys and nobody cares to mention our side of the story.Football is no place for politics , and when we didn't bring politics into football , we still get blamed and with a narritive like we deserve to be provoked and can't say anything in our defence because we deserve it for the war. I wish you a pleasent day and hope for a good game today were the better team will win without the mention of politics and the past. (don't roast me for my English )

[@leo130202]

Brate, skroz si u pravu!

[@uhAngell]

Your English is great! I am an Albanian living in Kosovo. I think you yourself also might be a bit misinformed here. This is not a case of "both sides did terrible things to each other". I hate this rhetoric. However, yes. The Albanian side definitely also has war criminals (Thaqi for example) and have been charged as well. The Albanian war criminals do not even compare in the slightest to the atrocities Serbs have committed in and around Kosovo. Did you really think no one was gonna intervene after what happened in Srebrenica? Did you really expect us to just get our shit pushed in just like Bosnia? Are we just supposed to take the attacks just because you wanted to create your own Great Serbia? Defending yourself against an oppressing force is not doing a "terrible" thing to Serbs. This is bullshit and I'm tired of hearing this. I also agree that the NATO bombings were bad. I'm very sorry this happened to your people but Milosevic was not stopping. NATO had to step in at some point and Serbia was committing atrocities left and right. I wish there was a different tactic used. But still, the 2 don't even compare in the slighteset.

[@Filip-ew9et]

@@leo130202 Hvala

[@Filip-ew9et]

@@uhAngell Thank you for the response , i really don't want to compare who did worse or who is right or wrong , thats why i said that both sides did terible things , war is a terible thing and thats a understatement. I am really sorry for what your people had to go through and im sorry for my people too , in the end , inocent people suffer the most. I truly think that both of us are being played , in the end politicians and the rich don't go to war , don't die and don't suffer , but us the kids of war , the kids of corupt countries, and you and me both know how bad our countries are xd Hope this finds you good and i hope we never have to fight again , wish you all well :D

[@loudseik9997]

@@uhAngell Brother after seeing the massive support for Russia against Ukraine in Serbia, I am afraid that if there was no NATO Serbs would start shit again all over the Balkans.

[@baronmemez]

Great video. Can you make a video on "The problem with the German National Football Team"

[@danilopetkovic6793]

Wow, what a one-sided and biased view. I didn't expect this at all, this is just a straight up anti-Serbian video, you took the absolute worst from our fans, politicians, linked all of us with Russian war in which we do not support any side. Just complete bs. How about all the Serbs killed and expelled since 99'? How about mentioning the 2004 pogrom of Serbs by Albanians, burned monasteries? I get that we did a lot of bad things, but there is a great deal of bad things others did to us, and it never gets mentioned.

[@doomdoomtv316]

You owe Australia an apology as do most punters 😂

[@joshuabean8165]

Babe wake up HITC SEVENS has posted another geo political football documentary

[@mirkojevtic988]

The described event where disgusted NATO bombed Serbia to intervene in a humanitarian catastrophe is similar to the Russian justification of the Ukraine invasion and its denazification. It's only that history is written by winners. And it is amended to fit the desired narrative. The truth that is hard to find is that the first report of "Račak" described it as a confrontation between army forces and the terrorist organization UCK. They were not civilians. Yes, the Kosovo liberation army was internationally recognized as a terrorist organization. It had a goal to fight for independence, even though bringing chaos to the Serbian population and provoking a response and further international intervention. Of course, the civilians suffered, and I'm ashamed of any civilian casualty that happened in the name of Serbia. But the other side did just the same things. No international help was provided for Serbs, and no outcry to stop the terrorist organization. It's easy to find that the current Kosovo government was involved in organ trade during that war. Financing terrorist efforts through organs of innocent civilians. How many Serbs fled Kosovo in the end? Why? It just pains me to see that otherwise rational people don't see the parallel. How are those lies and justifications for NATO bombing different from the ones said now about Ukrainians? Are your governments the only ones telling the real truth with no propaganda?

[@WERTYUIO821]

"No international help was provided" Didn't Greece provide humanitarian help to Serbia during the Kosovo war? I remember reading that Greece was the only country that was not seen suspiciously during that war because it provided humanitarian assistance to both sides during the war. So both Kosovo and Serbia allowed Greece to provide assistance freely while the rest of the countries had it difficult.

[@kleamedini3603]

No Serbs ever lived in Kosovo before the London treaty, it has been a land inhabited by albanians before the slavic invasions to the balkans, and even though the slavic managed to occupy different countries and change their culture and languages, still albanian remains as one of the ancient ones and a totally different branch in the indo european languages. So how does Serbia expect for kosovo albanians to not react and fight for their freedom and right of birth? How many albanians in Kosovo fled their home and didnt hear a word for months from their sons in war? How many women did serbians rape? With what right? Serbia expects for Kosovo to be assimilated and history erased, but that is not possible. They have already done too much damage to Bosnia and Kosovo and the whole region, it certainly can not be everyone else’s fault, therefore it was necessary for NATO to intervene and help Kosovo achieve freedom. Of course I think war crimes have been committed by all parties involved, but trials are already deciding who should be punished for that.

[@mirkojevtic988]

@@WERTYUIO821 my point is that the justification that is given for bombing Serbia is far from a good one. Did wider international community even know about the happenings in Kosovo? Before they started vilification of Serbs with a goal to make military intervention.

[@ErmalTahiri]

hahaha I LOVE IT - The way you explained every detail was amazing

[@GreekHouseEffect]

why would he get sacked? The west is mostly pro-Kosovo

[@petarveljkovic4906]

No way!? What Serbian city are you from? Nice to see others in the comments as well

[@Kosovanmappper]

@@petarveljkovic4906 bruh shut up

[@53rdand3rdShows]

Best football channel by miles. Keep up the good, and important work. Croatian fans jeered Serbian background Canadian keeper Borjan too on their game. Fifa is investigating currently. This Balkan nationalism stuff seems to never end sadly. No hate! Football for all!

[@dinohermann1887]

The Balkans (due to their unique geographic position) were pretty much the melting pot of different civilizations and empires (Slavs, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, Habsburgs, Napoleon, Russians and British). That explains why there's so much trouble even to this day.

[@mustimon]

Serbian nationalism

[@besjanaselmani3972]

Unsportsmanlike behavior? Just a symbol of showing ethnicity. Fifa is discriminatory on this one.

[@geeianna7708]

Fantastic historical background. I remember watching the game and seeing the unusual goal celebrations. Their celebrations should be celebrated in Kosvar history and shared with the world

[@abedsnudes3597]

Kosovar history 😂😂😂

[@deusvult8808]

@@abedsnudes3597 and other hilarious jokes you could tell yourself.

[@saeed_05]

Shaqiri scored earlier against serbia and this time shushed them😂

[@rogyn8484]

This video is so intentionally made to provide misleading information and present one side as victims. Lets go step by step: 1) 140.000 people killed in Bosnian war is not a true number! Real number and even official number provided by the UN estimates this on 100.000 victims (including both soldiers and civilians on all sides) BUT from that number large number of killed were also Serbs and Croats (about 40%) although the most of loses were on Bosnian Muslims side. He skipped to say real numbers and which groups were involved there in conflict. 2) Albanian "refugees" to Switzerland in the 80s and start of the 90s were mostly economical migrants who had their families already living over there like in general all other ethnic groups in ex-Yugoslavia. He wanted to represent how all of them were tortured in Kosovo while forgetting to say that during 80s Serbs had multiple protests against Albanians who started to harass them in many cases burning their houses or even killing them while they were working in the fields etc (one of the reasons why Milosevic gains support from the local Serbs back then). 3) WW1 skipping important fact that Albanians in Kosovo itself were divided over supporting Serbs and being opposite to them. 1916 when Bulgarians, Austrians and Germans jointly broke into Serbia those who opposed Serbs from Albanians were notoriously burning and looting Serbian villages forcefully expelling people from their places or what had left from them after the territory was occupied. In some areas under Bulgarian occupational territory when they started to hit hard on Albanians (beside the Serbs) only then some of the local Albanian rulers joined Serbian rebels in their uprisings against Bulgarians on south Kosovo including. Long story short Serbian population from Kosovo on the end of WW1 was totally devastated. 4) Skipping the whole WW2 part and jumping directly into 1945 is huge misguiding in this video. During the time of German, Italian and Bulgarian occupation of ex-Yugoslavia Albanians were 90% pro Nazi supporters even having their own SS forces on the ground together with some local gangs who were responsible for mass execution of Serbs, churches burning and people expelling from Kosovo. Local Serbs expelled from Kosovo after the WW2 were by the law forbidden to return to their destroyed homes forcing them to stay at places where they found themselves when the war ended. Some people wait for over a decade in order to be able to see their friends and family who survived or stayed to live in Kosovo. What was left of Serbian population totally crumbled over that time and Albanians expanded drastically. 5) Also he did not mention that mass industrialization of Belgrade and central Serbia left Tito in need for additional workers. Lot of Serbs were relocated from Kosovo to a jobs in a newly open factories all around the central Serbia and Belgrade especially during 50s and 60s. Meanwhile in the same time especially end of 40s and start of 50s mass migration of Albanians happen from Albania to Kosovo since they were running away from their own dictator Enver Hoxha who become type of leader like North Korea have today. All of them saw Yugoslavia and their cousins in Kosovo as a "free world" comparing to what they had in Albania. 6) During 80s there were so many incidents in which what was left of the Serbian population in the south of Kosovo were constantly harassed, threaten, looted and even killed by the local Albanians who were often waiting for them in the fields and started shooting on them during the harvests or beating them during the nights. Many of those incidents were of course hidden under the carpet until Milošević come to power and promised that it will not happen again anymore (one of the reasons why the local Serbs supported him in the beginning of his coming to power). 7) KLA (or UCK) was formed from a group of local Albanian gangsters that were even by the official CIA reports until 1998 marked as a terrorist group deeply involved in human, drug and weapons trafficking's. When uprising in Albania broke out in middle of 90s that group smuggled tons of weapons from Albania into Kosovo starting arming local mafia warlords who were at very first stopped in their businesses by Serbian police forces who started clashes with them. Even local Albanians who were opposing them or spoke out against KLA as a group of local criminals who not represent Albanians interests were often killed afterwards. Their targets were not only Serbian police but also Serbian civilians and political opponents especially in the villages outside of large towns. 8) 1998 "International Community was outraged by the Serbs" but were not outraged by the KLA terrorist members who were in 1998 magically cleaned down from the terrorist organization lists and instead of that suddenly by Clinton decision become a "freedom fighters group" (sounds familiar?). During whole 1998 US provided KLA with weapons, logistics, maps, coordinates even orders where and which village to attack. US spectators come multiple times on the field during 1998 after the battles like one in winter of 1998 where Serbian police eliminate huge column of KLA terrorist right at the border line. They not even touch bodies and next to them were found US weapons, orders in English, brand new uniforms, snipers, drugs and maps with all details. When this was presented to "independent" spectator he called "both sides on peace solution", I still remember his angry face because US was busted that time in front of all journalists who come there. 9) "Images of children were sent around the world". Which event and where that happened exactly, why he left out important info about what was going on there? There was attack of Serbian police on the main KLA base in Kosovo village and their leader Adem Jasari (now Pristina airport have name this person) who when saw that Serbian troops encircled him run like a coward right into his family house and started shooting from the house at Serbian police. Police was calling him for a whole day to surrender or at least to liberate members of his family from the house which he rejected threatening to his family that he will shot anyone if they try to get out of the house (among those couple of underaged kids). After hours of calling him out situation become desparate and Serbian gunner from a tank hit the house killing Jasari and almost all of his family except of little girl who Serbian troops founded and brought into hospital. 10) "NATO had enough and they started bombing Serbia". First of all US started bombing of Serbia illegally without any UN approval just the same as they did in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places. NATO as defensive alliance had nothing to deal with local conflicts in which they were not directly involved so Clinton not only brake international law by started war he also brake NATO status by doing so. Also not mentioning that during bombings NATO was using illegal DU and cluster munition directly hitting Serbian civilians, infrastructure, refineries and more. 70% of NATO targets were civilians or civilian objects making it clear war crime for which of course no one was ever counted responsible or convinced in Hague. 11) "200.000 Serbs left Kosovo" no they were ethnically cleansed, that is the correct word. Terror of local Serbs expanded when NATO troops enter the region, so called disarmaments was nothing but a fairy tale where KLA mafia leaders continued their businesses expelling local Serbs, Roma but also and Albanians who collaborate with Serbian police. Terrorist attacks on buses, kids who were swimming in rivers, execution of Serbs on the fields, roads, burning the whole villages all of this continues right in front of NATO troops who in that situations watch from the side and did nothing to stop it. March 2004 local Albanians burned more them 100 Churches in a just couple of days some of them under the UNESCO protection from medieval time and NATO did nothing except "evacuating (expelling)" Serbs to more secured areas. 12) ) "Between 1990 and 2000 1.2 Albanians left Kosovo", absolutely false and impossible number, further more almost all Albanians who were living in Kosovo before the conflict in 1998 returned there until 2000 while most of the Serbs who were living there until 2004 were constantly and forcefully expelled year by year with exception from the north. Simple question, if there is so many Albanians expelled how come that Albanians are absolute majority today in Kosovo even expelling most of Roma population which they had before the conflict? To prove this 1991 Kosovo had population of around 1.9 million people. 2011 Kosovo had population of 1.6 million people. 0.3 million migrated to EU smaller amount died in the war where are those 1.2 Albanians expelled he is talking about?

[@kgizzle92]

Shaqiri and Xhaka become Pele and Maradona when they play Serbia!

[@mikicateretana859]

Krstajic talking about var was cuz serbia didnt get clear penalty at 1-1

[@SplashProductions998]

1. You've missed important thing, difference between 'kosovo' and its full name ''Kosovo And Metochy!'' 2. Shaqiri's Birth certificate ( Born in Gnjilane, Serbia ) 3. The Yellow House you didnt mention in video ( Sadly ) 4. 2004 Savage behavior, Chaos, Demolition, Mass Destruction by the albanians on 14th century Churches and Monasteries ! 5. "Hashim Tachi'' the man who got acused as war climinal (killed a lot of innocent people inlcuding kids) got himself into politics . Note: In this video we all can clearly see that you are favourising the western europe, much missed facts about Serbia obiviously. But kinda great video anyway. Best regards from K. Mitrovica, Kosovo and Metochy, Serbia ♥

[@limeliciousmapping4652]

*Gnjilane, Kosovo

[@accobra4272]

Why is Shakiri not playing for Albania?

[@jovansesum7955]

Shakiri has provoked the Serbian people more times thain he has been in Kosovo

[@Lgx-ie4if]

Because he is swiss and will forever be a part of our country, he makes us swiss proud and belongs here

[@FozzQuaker]

He would most likely never appear at a major tournament if he represented Albania

[@Mathoose]

Thanks so much for such an in depth description of the conflict. Always a great watch

[@ezraezra2928]

That controversial goal celebration was still happened nowadays. In Euro 2020, Austria's Marko Arnautovic, who was Serbian, had even made political chant against North Macedonia's Alioski, who was Albanian Kosovo, after scoring the goal.

[@Dz73zxxx]

Yes! I still remember how Alaba slams shut arnautovic to prevent cards shoved at him 🤣

[@oiulti6900]

Seriously, this is the best World Cup ever.

[@alyjam]

Games are great, host is absolute sh!t. Almost no fans except Africans and Argentinians (probably didn't have time to cancel flights after the "no beer for non VIPs" announcement). Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, USA, Germany, England, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Korea and Japan, South Africa, etc. have all been far superior hosts.

[@oiulti6900]

@@alyjam psssh 100,000s from multiple countries each are recorded. The event was a success by the host and for the people and the games were also epic. Seriously, the contender for the best World Cup ever.

[@yuritarded1583]

It’s always fascinating to hear the western side of this story about kosovo and Serbia which never includes any details of destruction of orthodox churches and monasteries in kosovo or war crimes committed against Serbs in the 90s. The fact that KLM basically amounted to a terrorist group funded by nato isn’t mentioned either and the criminal bombing of Serbia by NATO is of course justified because of who makes the video. Maybe you should get a Serbian perspective when you make these videos and try to understand the other side of the conflict instead of creating a narrative that Serbs are the bad guys and these poor little Albanians just want independence they are so peaceful and loving. Every side commits crimes and does horrible things in conflicts and highlighting only one side of the story is typical for this conflict but you can do better Alfie

[@joshquinn4964]

What a video this is, Alfie. I'm doing a 6000 word essay soon and I'm choosing the Yugoslav Wars to write about. This video is a great help to my research and also, its a HITC sevens video so it's very pleasantly easy to take in.

[@francolive5718]

Alfie thoughts on the 3 team groups at the next World Cup? Surely cannot be allowed to happen!

[@Ese96Agoaye]

A repeat of the scenario involving Austria and West Germany at the 1982 tournament could happen.

[@nettlecider]

That would be such a shit show, I hate the idea to the point I'm shaking

[@francolive5718]

Imagine being a South American or Asian team going through 3 years of qualifying about 20 games then potentially going home after 2 games and half the squad not even getting on the pitch.

[@atom0507]

Whats going on

[@frantiseksedlacek3858]

Not a big deal or anything, but you seem like someone who likes to get things right, so I should correct your pronunciation of the letter J in slavic languages (Czech, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian etc.) - it is not the "zh" as in French, not the "g" sound as in English nor the "h" as in Spanish, but the "y" sound as in yes, yolk, yeast, yankee.. Hope you found this helpful, love your channel, keep up the good work!

[@flamur9919]

Great video! It’s important that people understand the context for this game and the reasons behind the celebrations. Thank you Switzerland 🇦🇱🇽🇰🇨🇭

[@artanndoni7048]

Very well and simply detailed information. Once you have Albanian blood doesn’t matter where you live or where you’re born. You are always Albanian. That football match meant the world to Kosovo people and all Albanians all over the world. Those 2 lion hearts Xhaka& Shakiri made the hole nation so proud. God bless them

[@thebristolbruiser]

Weird how Kosovo was given the right to self determination yet Republika Srpska has never been afforded the same right.

[@juelasejdo1706]

Very informative video. Thank you! Well done!