Brotherly love has never been tested in the European Championship's 56-year history, but that will change on Saturday (June 11) at 10pm, Singapore time.
A pair of siblings will come up against each other for the first time when Switzerland take on Albania in their Group A opener.
Growing up, Granit and Taulant Xhaka were sometimes mistaken as twins as their Kosovo Albanian parents dressed them alike. Yet they would not be hard to differentiate at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, with new Arsenal signing Granit, 23, in Switzerland colours and Taulant, 25, in Albania's kit.
Both were born in Basel, Switzerland and have featured on the same side. They played together at Swiss Super League outfit Basel for two years and represented Switzerland at various age group levels.
The Swiss FA persuaded midfielder Granit to stick with them but defender Taulant opted to represent Albania at the senior level.
Granit has already faced Albania twice in 2014 World Cup qualifying, with Switzerland winning both the home and away games. The brothers, however, have yet to face each other in a competitive international match.
"It will be tough not only against Taulant but also against Albania," Granit told Kosovo newspaper Zeri. "We played Albania a couple of years ago and it was really difficult. It will be tougher now that my brother has joined the Red and Blacks. However, we are professionals and have to play."
Swiss TV commentator Sascha Ruefer has doubted his professionalism in the past. With Switzerland leading Albania 2-0 in their home qualifier in 2012 , Granit was through on goal but sent the ball softly towards the goalkeeper. That prompted Ruefer to suggest that the midfielder passed up a goalscoring opportunity because of his Albanian roots.
The Swiss team, however, rejected those accusations.
Their father Ragip Xhaka - who moved to Switzerland in the 1990s to escape war in Kosovo - admitted there will be mixed feelings on Saturday.
"I am the happiest father in the world at this moment. Both my sons will be playing in the Euro championship," Ragip told Albania's Tirana Times. "I was a little upset that both Switzerland and Albania will be in the same group. I would have loved to see them play in the final but not in the same group."
More Euro bros
Thankfully for four other families, their support will be undivided throughout the tournament.
Famous double acts
No fewer than 12 sets of brothers have graced this continental tournament over the years. Here is a look at five famous pairs.
Bernd and Karlheinz Forster (West Germany - 1980, 1984)
Erwin and Ronald Koeman (The Netherlands - 1988)
Brian and Michael Laudrup (Denmark, 1996)
Gary and Phil Neville (England - 1996, 2000, 2004)
Frank and Ronald de Boer (The Netherlands - 2000)
