Page 15 - Soccer360 Issue 106

NICKNAME: THE EAGLES
S360 PREDICTION | 22ND PLACE
GROUP B - UEFA EURO 2024
FACTFILE
POPULATION:
2.8 million
EURO FINALS APPEARANCES: 1
BEST FINISH:
Group stage, 2016
MOST MEMORABLE EUROS MOMENT: Beating Romania 1-0 at Euro 2016 for their first tournament victory.
HOW THEY GOT TO EURO 2024: Topped their qualification group after losing just one of their eight games.
LAST EUROS APPEARANCE: 2016 - Bowed out in the group stage despite good performances and a win over Romania.
MOST CAPPED PLAYER: Lorik Cana, 93
LEADING INTERNATIONAL SCORER: Erjon Bogdani, 18
HOW TO FOLLOW:
ERJON BOGDANI
VS ITALY VS CROATIA VS SPAIN
JUNE 15TH JUNE 19TH JUNE 24TH 3:00PM | EST 9:00AM | EST 3:00PM | EST
FIFA RANKING 66TH
ALBANIA
Albania face the seemingly impossible task of progressing from the Group of Death. However, a strong qualifying campaign makes the Eagles no pushovers. Ian Waterhouse asks if they can cause a surprise.
EURO APPEARANCES: 1
EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
THEIR BEST THREE EUROS
2016
2012
2008
18TH
DNQ
DNQ
UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD:3 W:1 D:0 L:2
THE COACH:
SYLVINHO
Well known for a playing career that took in spells at Arsenal, Barcelona, and Manchester City among others, former Brazil left-back Sylvinho took over as Albania coach in January 2023 and led them to their best ever qualifying campaign, inspiring hope that they can have an impact at Euro 2024. An extremely tough draw makes the task harder, but he will receive extraordinary praise should he mastermind a place in the last 16.
KEY PLAYER:
BERAT DJIMSITI
Given the pedigree of opposition they are up against in Group B, it is expected that Albania will spend a lot of time on the defensive. The leadership qualities of captain Berat Gjimshiti will therefore be essential to their hopes of competing, with the 30-year-old having been a key performer for Atalanta over several seasons. His Serie A experience will make the opener with Italy an enticing prospect.
SEEKING A SURPRISE?
After finishing above the likes of the
Czech Republic and Poland in qualifying, confidence is high inside the Albania
camp with former Brazil defender and current Eagles head coach Sylvinho quietly optimistic about his side’s chances of upsetting the three heavyweights that they have been drawn alongside in a daunting Group B.
With a mix of experience and youth,
Albania have a perfect platform from which to attack what is just their second major tournament. Their first was at Euro 2016 where they gave a very good account of themselves, and the progress the national team has made since then means that
they might sense an opportunity to cause problems for the likes of Italy, Croatia, and Spain. After all, if they could somehow find a way of winning just one of those games, it would offer a very good chance of making it into the last 16.
The experience of Lazio’s Elseid Hysaj and Atalanta’s Berat Gjimshiti will be crucial
in defence while 33-year-old Konyaspor forward Sokol Cikalleshi or Chelsea youngster Armando Broja will be relied upon to take the opportunity when it arises in front of goal. Opportunities may be few and far between with a midfield that will likely find itself overrun, but the underdog tag will suit Albania with the Eagles ready to pounce on anyone who underestimates them.
PROBABLE STARTING XI
MUJA
ASLLANI
HYSAJ
CIKALLESHI DAKU
BAJRAMI
RAMADANI
MITAJ
VESELI
ISMAJLI
STRAKOSHA
SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024 13