Xherdan Shaqiri and Gökhan Inler scored the goals to make it a perfect start for Switzerland in FIFA World Cup Group G, with six points from a possible six.

Albania had a substantial support among the 15,960 crowd in Lucerne, with the visitors showing plenty of strength and tactical nous, as Switzerland struggled to make progress on a very wet surface. However, Granit Xhaka was able to tee up fellow Albanian-speaker Shaqiri for Switzerland's first goal, with the latter brushing past three opponents before finishing with a low shot.

The visitors pressed in response, but while Switzerland gained more room for manoeuvre, they struggled to make much of it. Their goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, though, was not troubled in the first half.

The Swiss sat back a little after the interval, looking to hit their guests on the counter. They duly wrapped up the scoring with their first real attack of the half, with Inler converting from the penalty spot after Armend Dallku brought Valentin Stocker down in the area. Switzerland take on Norway next, on 12 October, when Albania meet Iceland.