Valon Behrami produced an impressive trademark all-action display to help Switzerland make a winning start at Euro 2016 with a 1-0 victory over ten-man Albania in Group A this afternoon.

The Watford midfielder, who is playing in his fifth major international tournament, also showcased his qualities on the ball at times in Lens as the Swiss were victorious in an opening European Championship match for the first time.

The decisive goal came in the fifth minute when Albanian goalkeeper Etrit Berisha came for a Xherdan Shaqiri corner, but got nowhere near it and Fabian Schar headed into an unguarded net.

The Swiss were given a further boost before half-time when Albania’s captain Lorik Cana was sent off for a second bookable offence and Blerim Dzemaili almost capitalised from the resultant free-kick, but saw his right-footed effort cannon out off the far post.

Behrami was booked after 67 minutes, four minutes after substitute Ergys Kace had also seen yellow for almost pulling the Hornets’ player’s shorts down as he tried to prevent him surging forward.

But the Swiss almost paid the price for their failure to kill off the game with three minutes remaining when Shkelzen Gashi beat the offside trap, but was denied by a superb save Yann Sommer after the keeper had made another fine stop in the opening period to thwart Armando Sadiku.

Switzerland’s next Group A game is on Wednesday against Romania for whom Costel Pantilimon was an unused substitute in last night’s 2-1 defeat to France.

Watford have five players at the championships and Craig Cathcart is set to be the next one in action when Northern Ireland start their Group C campaign against Poland at 5pm tomorrow.