The Albania national football team ( albanian : Kombëtarja e futbollit të Shqipërisë ) represents Albania in men ‘s external football, and is governed by the Albanian Football Association, the governing torso for football in Albania. Albania competes in the three major international football tournaments ; the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship and UEFA Nations League. Albania was the winner of the 1946 Balkan Cup and the 2000 Malta Rothmans International Tournament. At Euro 2016, Albania made its second appearance at a major men ‘s football tournament after 50 years.
Reading: Albania national football team
Since its completion in 2019, Arena Kombëtare ( english : National Arena ), known as Air Albania Stadium for sponsorship reasons, has been the team ‘s home ground. Albania ‘s highest FIFA World Ranking was 22nd in August 2015. The color of the team are red, white and black, and the double headed eagle its symbol. Its supporters are jointly known as the Tifozët Kuq e Zi and display ampere well as the state ‘s national flag colours, loss and black. In 2020, Albania won for the beginning time a group by finishing first in group 4 of UEFA Nations League C and has been promoted in UEFA Nations League B .
history [edit ]
twentieth hundred [edit ]
Although it never played any matches, the albanian home football team existed before the Albanian Football Association ( Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit ; FSHF ) was created on 6 June 1930. Albania joined FIFA during a congress reserve between 12 June and 16 June. Albania played its first international match against Yugoslavia in 1946, which ended in a 3–2 home frustration at Qemal Stafa Stadium. [ 5 ] In 1946, Albania besides participated for the first time in the Balkan Cup in which Albania won by beating Romania 1–0 in the final. [ 6 ] In 1954, Albania was one of the founding members of UEFA. Albania waited until 1962 to compete in a Euro Cup competition and the alone clock time Albania was between the best 16 teams of the continent, the reason being Albania got past the first branch as Greece, for political reasons forfeited the game. [ 7 ] [ 8 ] At the end of the tournament Albania ranked 9th in Europe. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Albania participated for the first time in a stipulate phrase of a World Cup in the qualifiers of the 1966 version in England. The team was drawn in the Group 5 which finished in the stopping point position with only one point from six matches. In the qualifiers, of the UEFA Euro 1968 Albania had a describe 0–0 against West Germany that denied the Germans the engagement to the UEFA Euro 1968 finals. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] In subsequently years, Albania did not participate in the qualifiers of the World Cup 1970, UEFA Euro 1972, UEFA Euro 1976, World Cup 1978 and UEFA Euro 1980 for unknown political reasons. After six years without playing any international matches, Albania entered in the qualifiers of the World Cup 1982, managing to finish in a rate other than last for the first time in a qualify pit, with Finland getting last place rather. The qualifiers of the World Cup 1990 were probably the worst qualifier in Albania ‘s history as there were 6 losses in a many games with no memorable matches .
twenty-first century [edit ]
In the qualifiers of the World Cup 2002, Albania recorded a 2–0 winnings over Greece which was the only team that they beat during the qualifiers. Albania was able to make some shock in the modify of the UEFA Euro 2004 by beating 3–1 Russia at Loro Boriçi Stadium. [ 14 ] This pit was besides the debut of the german coach Hans-Peter Briegel who led Albania to an undefeated run at home matches. Despite the good results, Albania finished the group in the penult touch with lone eight points. In the qualifiers of the World Cup 2006 Albania recorded some historical results. Two months after Greece beat Portugal to win the European Championship, Albania defeated Greece 2–1. [ 15 ] In the qualifiers of the UEFA Euro 2008 Albania won twice in both matches against Luxembourg. Albania besides drew 2–2 with Belarus and 0–0 away with Bulgaria. Albania ‘s Euro crusade ended with a 6–1 passing off to Romania which resulted in the resignation of the coach Otto Barić and his assistant. [ 16 ] In December 2007, Arie Haan was named Albania ‘s read/write head coach by signing a biennial contract for the qualifiers of the World Cup 2010, where Albania made a very negative performance by winning only one match. Albania won only seven points from ten-spot matches and Haan was replaced by Josip Kuže in May 2009 following the end of the campaign. [ 17 ] however, Kuže could n’t lead Albania to the better results as the team ended the qualifiers of the UEFA Euro 2012 with alone nine points from ten matches. With Kuže in charge, Albania recorded its second biggest win the history by defeating Cyprus 6–1 at home, equal with Albania ‘s 5–0 victory over Vietnam in 2003. [ 18 ] Josip Kuže parted ways with Albania three and a half years after he started the job, and in December 2011, italian coach Gianni de Biasi replaced him. [ 19 ] Albania started the qualifiers and was, at one point, 2nd in group with six matches played and four to spare, but failed to be successful in the final four, losing away in Slovenia and Iceland, a well as at home against Switzerland, and drawing in Cyprus. [ 20 ] Albania started the qualifiers of the UEFA Euro 2016 with an emphatic 1–0 away win against Portugal, [ 21 ] which was followed by a 1–1 draw against Denmark at the newly renovated stadium Elbasan Arena. [ 22 ] After beating Armenia 3–0 in the survive qualify match, Albania made history by qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2016, its first always appearance at a major men ‘s football tournament. [ 23 ] In the tournament itself, Albania lost 0–1 to Switzerland and 0–2 to hosts France. While they beat romania 1–0 ( their first win against Romania since 1947 ), the team finished last among the third-placed teams and did n’t progress beyond the group phase. [ 24 ] Following the about successful UEFA european Championship ‘s, Albania suffered massive reverse. In 2018 World Cup reservation, Albania failed to qualify and finished in 3rd, which was, however, their best result in history. During this era, their successful director, Gianni De Biasi, resigned and Christian Panucci, another italian, replaced him as coach of Albania. [ 25 ] however, things were short better. Albania played ill in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League, winning merely to Israel 1–0 and lost the remaining three, particularly the devastating 0–4 frustration to Scotland at home. [ 26 ] Panucci would be sacked after a 0–2 get the better of to Turkey in the open political campaign for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying. [ 27 ] Another italian, Edoardo Reja, was appointed to help Albania to improve in a bad group, [ 28 ] but improvement is still very fiddling. Albania failed to qualify to UEFA Euro 2020, archiving precisely a disappointing fourth identify. [ 29 ]
team image [edit ]
Kits [edit ]
Albania home kit at 2016–17 temper. Albania ‘ colours are red and black, mirroring the state ‘s flag. The team typically wears red shirts, black shorts and loss socks. Away kits are normally all-white, with loss and black shipshape .
home stadium [edit ]
Albania ‘s main stadium for most separate of the history was Qemal Stafa Stadium located in Tirana. The work started in April 1939 during the Italy government. The construction lasted for three years but it stopped briefly in August 1943 following the fall of fascist government. [ 30 ] The stadium had an Olympic Stadium form, as idealized by Gherardo Bosio, a young fascist architect from Florence, Italy. [ 31 ] The stadium ‘s initial capacity was 15,000, this due to the fact that Tirana at that time had merely 60,000 inhabitants. [ 31 ] It was named after Qemal Stafa, a Hero of Albania in World War II. [ 32 ] The stadium was inaugurated formally on 7 October 1946 when Albania played its first competitive meet against Yugoslavia. [ 33 ] Ever since then, further 130 international matches took place in the stadium, with the death being a friendly against Georgia in November 2015. [ 34 ] In 2005, Cecilia de Marco and Elisabetta Lorusso, two young italian students, called the stadium as “ one of the strongest symbols of italian impact in Albania ”. [ 30 ] In November 2013, Qemal Stafa Stadium was shut down by FIFA for not fulfilling international standards. [ 35 ] The stadium ‘s destruction started in June 2016, and it was announced that is going to be replaced by Arena Kombëtare. [ 36 ] Albania sometimes has played dwelling matches at early venues. Outside Tirana, the national team has played matches in Flamurtari Stadium in Vlorë, [ 37 ] Tomori Stadium in Berat, [ 38 ] Niko Dovana Stadium in Durrës, [ 39 ] Loro Boriçi Stadium in Shkodër [ 40 ] and Elbasan Arena in Elbasan. [ 41 ] In February 2014, due to Albania not having a stadium that fulfills external standards set by FIFA, the work for renovation of Elbasan Arena ( at the time Ruzhdi Bizhuta Stadium ) started. [ 42 ] The exercise lasted for 7 months, and the stadium was inaugurated on 9 October when Albania played a friendly meet against KF Elbasani under-19 police squad ; Albania won the match 17–0. [ 43 ] The official inauguration occurred two days late in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Denmark. [ 44 ] The first external match at Loro Boriçi Stadium was played on 29 March 2003 against Russia, with Albania winning 3–1. [ 14 ] In October 2014, Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, promised the reconstruction of the stadium. [ 45 ] The stadium ‘s construction started in May 2015 and finished in August 2016. [ 46 ] In 2016–17, the stadium served irregular as the home of Kosovo national team, due to stadiums in Mitrovica and Pristina were under renovation and did not meet UEFA standards. [ 47 ]
Rivalries [edit ]
Kosovo [edit ]
This bowler hat is otherwise known as Brotherly bowler hat ( albanian : Derbi vëllazëror ), besides known as the Brotherly ( albanian : Vëllazërorja ). The document beginnings of this bowler hat date back to the meter during the World War II, respectively on 29 November 1942, where they played a friendly match as partially of the celebrations for 30th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania and the meet ended with a 2–0 succeed for Tirana, [ a ] [ 49 ] [ 50 ] [ 51 ] this bowler hat is back 50 years after the first peer, when the Football Federation of Kosovo signed a cooperation protocol with the Albanian Football Association and in the framework of this protocol it was decided to play on 14 February a friendly match between these two national teams, [ 52 ] and this match ended with a 3–1 succeed for Albania. [ 53 ] During the menstruation before 2016, these two national teams have exchanged players with each other, which influenced these two teams to be called reserve ( B ) teams of each early, Kosovo national team was called Albania B due to many players coming to play for Kosovo as they had no space to play for Albania, while Albania national team was called Kosovo B ascribable to of the big number of players of Kosovo Albanian lineage in its constitution. [ 54 ] These exchanges began to be called acts of treachery after Kosovo ‘s membership in UEFA and FIFA, where some Albania players of Kosovo Albanian lineage such as Amir Rrahmani, Herolind Shala and Milot Rashica who were contribution of the plans for the future of the Albania, moved to Kosovo. [ 55 ]
serbia [edit ]
This football competition between Albania and Serbia is chiefly ascribable to historical tensions between the two countries. It has been described “ one of the fiercest rivalries in the worldly concern ”. During the Euro 2016 qualifying phase, the serbian crowd were chanting “ Kill, kill Albanians ” [ 56 ] and were throwing flares at the Albanian team, after which there was a clash between the Serbian and albanian teams. [ 57 ]
Supporters [edit ]
A choreography of Tifozat Kuq vitamin e Zi in the home team ‘s beginning match at Elbasan Arena against Denmark in October 2014. Tifozat Kuq e Zi ( english : Red and Black Fans, besides known as the Albania National Football Team Supporters Club ) is a non-profit football supporters ‘ association for the Albania national football team and respective national team sportive activities. [ 58 ] [ 59 ] It was founded on 25 December 2003. [ 58 ] In cooperation with FSHF, it organises trips for football fans to visit games, and develops and sells merchandise to support itself and fund frolic relate projects. Tifozat Kuq e Zi stands firm in the political view that Albanians should parcel only one national team and have continuous aspirations to join in one country ( Një Komb, Një Kombëtare ), i.e. union of Albania, Kosovo, etc. [ 60 ] [ 61 ] In this sense, TKZ is joined by different supporters ‘ associations throughout Albanian-speaking regions chiefly in Kosovo ( Shqiponjat of Peja, Kuqezinjet e Jakoves of Gjakova, Plisat of Pristina, Torcida of Mitrovica, etc. ), North Macedonia ( Ballistët of Tetovo, Ilirët of Kumanovo, Shvercerat of Skopje, etc. ) and in Albania itself ( Ultras Guerrils of Partizani Tirana, Tirona Fanatics of KF Tirana, Vllaznit Ultras of Vllaznia Shkodër, Ujqërit e Deborës of Skënderbeu Korçë, Shqiponjat of KF Besa Pejë and many other different albanian fans ). [ 58 ] The ongoing dispute between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Football Association of Albania has been seen as a political intrusion by FIFA and UEFA, which led to the banish of Albania from international sportive activities. FSHF president of the united states Armand Duka is highly unwanted by the TKZ who have numerously asked for his resignation think he is creditworthy for inner corruption in the Albanian Football Association. [ 62 ] [ 63 ] [ 64 ] [ 65 ] The TKZ have been praised by many different football players and managers, whom were not barely albanian. One exemplar is with Switzerland ‘s early bus, Ottmar Hitzfeld, who was astonished by how many albanian fans turned up and how enthusiastic they were in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying peer between Switzerland and Albania where the Swiss won 2–0 thanks to goals from Gökhan Inler and Kosovo-born Xherdan Shaqiri. He did n’t believe that there was 12,000 albanian fans in the stands which was more than how many swiss fans turned up for the game. He stated that “ albanian fans are fantastic and the most passionate fans I have always seen ”. [ 66 ] During that campaign, TKZ attended all games Albania played apart from a catch against Cyprus in Nicosia and were besides large in numbers in the away games to Slovenia in Maribor and Norway in Oslo. [ 67 ] [ 68 ] [ 69 ]
Media coverage [edit ]
Albania ‘s qualify and friendly matches are televised by state-owned albanian Radio Television and by privately owned SuperSport Albania. besides these matches are broadcast by Kosovo ‘s state-owned Radio Television of Kosovo .
Results and fixtures [edit ]
Win Draw Loss
2021 [edit ]
Coaching staff [edit ]
stream technical staff [edit ]
Position
Name
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Athletic coach(es)
Goalkeeping coach
Read more: Lille OSC
Physiotherapist(s)
Doctor
Masseur
Material base(s)
Osteopat
Team manager
Video analyst
Players [edit ]
current police squad [edit ]
- The following players were called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against
England
Andorra[70] - All caps and goals as of 15 November 2021 after the match against Andorra[71]
holocene call-ups [edit ]
The following players have besides been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are calm available for excerpt .
player records [edit ]
- As of 8 September 2021.[72]
- Players in bold are still active with Albania.
Most appearances [edit ]
Lorik Cana is the most capped player in the history of Albania with 93 caps.
top goalscorers [edit ]
competitive record [edit ]
FIFA World Cup [edit ]
UEFA european championship [edit ]
Albania’s European Championship history
First Match
AlbaniaSwitzerland
(Lens, France; 11 June 2016)
Biggest win
RomaniaAlbania
(Lyon, France; 19 June 2016)
Biggest defeat
FranceAlbania
(Marseille, France; 15 June 2016)
Best result
Group stage (2016)
Worst result
—
UEFA Nations League [edit ]
UEFA Nations League record
Season
Division
Group
2018–19
C
1
3rd
4
1
0
3
1
8
34th
2020–21
C
4
1st
6
3
2
1
8
4
35th
2022–23
B
To be determined
Total
10
4
2
4
9
12
34th
FIFA Rankings [edit ]
Last update was on 26 July 2020. generator : [ 73 ] Best Ranking Worst Ranking Best Mover Worst Mover
Albania ‘s FIFA universe rankings
Rank
Year
Pld
Best
Worst
Rank
Move
Rank
Move
66
2020
7
66
3
69
3
66
2019
16
61
2
66
4
60
2018
6
56
2
60
3
62
2017
9
51
9
71
12
49
2016
12
35
5
49
10
38
2015
7
22
15
63
7
58
2014
9
45
25
70
16
57
2013
8
37
16
71
13
63
2012
9
58
17
97
10
74
2011
11
50
23
75
14
65
2010
9
58
13
97
7
96
2009
9
78
3
98
11
81
2008
7
73
19
102
18
80
2007
11
66
11
88
12
87
2006
6
62
20
88
13
82
2005
10
82
7
93
4
86
2004
8
86
5
94
5
89
2003
11
86
13
101
5
93
2002
9
92
4
97
5
96
2001
7
74
1
96
6
72
2000
8
72
13
94
6
83
1999
8
83
15
95
2
106
1998
8
97
14
109
8
116
1997
7
113
8
124
4
116
1996
5
90
6
116
12
91
1995
8
87
13
106
6
100
1994
5
93
9
113
11
92
1993
7
91
1
93
6
Honours [edit ]
Stamps of Albania, 2007. sixtieth Anniversary of Victory at the Balkan Cup
neck and neck record [edit ]
- As of 8 September 2021
- ^[76] Both the Serbian and Albanian football associations were looking to have the decision revisited,[77][78] but the decision was upheld by UEFA.[79] Both associations then filed further appeals to the [80] and on 10 July 2015 the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected the appeal filed by the Serbian FA, and upholds in part the appeal filed by the Albanian FA, meaning the match is deemed to have been forfeited by Serbia with 0–3 and they are still deducted three points.[81] Serbian FA announced appeal at the [82] The Serbia v Albania match was abandoned with the grudge at 0–0 soon before halftime after “ diverse incidents ”, which resulted in the Albania players refusing to return to the field. UEFA ruled that Albania had forfeited the match and awarded a 3–0 winnings to Serbia, but besides deducted three points from Serbia for their interest in the events. Serbia must besides play their next two home qualify games behind close doors, and both the serbian and albanian FAs were fined €100,000.Both the serbian and albanian football associations were looking to have the decisiveness revisited, but the decisiveness was upheld by UEFA.Both associations then filed far appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and on 10 July 2015 the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected the appeal filed by the serbian FA, and upholds in part the appeal filed by the albanian FA, meaning the match is deemed to have been forfeited by Serbia with 0–3 and they are even deducted three points.Serbian FA announced entreaty at the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland
See besides [edit ]
Notes and references [edit ]
Notes [edit ]
- ^[51] The alternative name of the Albania national team that was used during this match .
References [edit ]
Read more: Real Sociedad