Albania national football team

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Albania
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Kuq e Zinjtë
(The Red and Blacks)
Shqiponjat
(The Eagles)
Association Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Gianni De Biasi
Captain Lorik Cana
Most caps Altin Lala (79)
Top scorer Erjon Bogdani (19)
Home stadium Qemal Stafa Stadium
FIFA code ALB
FIFA ranking 43
Highest FIFA ranking 43 (May 2013[1])
Lowest FIFA ranking 124 (August 1997[1])
Elo ranking 82 [2]
Highest Elo ranking 52 (13 October 1946 [2])
Lowest Elo ranking 127 (14 & 18 December 1994 [2])
First colours
Second colours
First international
Albania Albania 2–3 Yugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(Tirana, Albania; October 7, 1946)[3]
Biggest win

Albania Albania 5–0 Vietnam 
(Bastia Umbra, Italy; February 12, 2003)

Albania Albania 6–1 Cyprus 
(Tirana, Albania; August 12, 2009)[3]
Biggest defeat
 Hungary 12–0 Albania Albania
(Budapest, Hungary; September 24, 1950)[3]
European Championship
Appearances 1 (First in 1964)
Best result Round of 16, 1964

The Albanian National Association Football Team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania (FSHF).

Although it never played any matches, the Albanian national football team existed before FSHF was created. This is witnessed by the registration of the team in the Balkan Cup tournament of 1929-1931, which started in 1929 (although Albania eventually retired from the competition, before the competition started).[4] FSHF was founded on June 6, 1930, and Albania had to wait 16 years to play its first international match, debuting against Yugoslavia in 1946. In 1932, Albania joined FIFA (during the congress June 12 — June 16) and in 1954, it was one of the founding members of UEFA.

Contents

Results in History [edit]

Main article: Albania national football team results

Recent developments [edit]

In December 2007, Football Association of Albania's president, Armand Duka, announced Arie Haan would replace Croatian-Austrian Otto Barić as Albania's head coach. Haan signed a two-year contract on January 4, 2008.[5]

On March 14, 2008, Albania was suspended from international football (FIFA and UEFA), due to heavy political interference in the Football Association. The suspension lasted 46 days.[6][7][8]

Haan was replaced by Croatian coach Josip Kuže in May 2009.[9] Kuže parted ways with Albania almost three years later, in December 2011, when coach Gianni de Biasi replaced him.[10]

Standings [edit]

Team
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Switzerland 5 3 2 0 7 1 +6 11
 Iceland 5 3 0 2 6 5 +1 9
 Albania 5 3 0 2 6 5 +1 9
 Norway 5 2 1 2 6 6 0 7
 Cyprus 5 1 1 3 4 8 −4 4
 Slovenia 5 1 0 4 4 8 −4 3
  Albania Cyprus Iceland Norway Slovenia Switzerland
Albania  — 3–1 1–2 7 Jun 1–0 11 Oct
Cyprus  15 Oct — 1–0 1–3 10 Sep 0–0
Iceland  10 Sep 11 Oct — 2–0 7 Jun 0–2
Norway  0–1 6 Sep 15 Oct — 2–1 10 Sep
Slovenia  6 Sep 2–1 1–2 11 Oct — 0–2
Switzerland  2–0 8 Jun 6 Sep 1–1 15 Oct —


2014 FIFA World Cup qualification [edit]

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification fixtures:

7 September 2012
20:30 SuperSport Albania
 Albania  3 – 1  Cyprus Qemal Stafa National Stadium, Tirana
Attendance: 9,400[11]
Referee: Artyom Kuchin (Kazakhstan)
Sadiku Goal 36'
Çani Goal 84'
Bogdani Goal 86'		 Report Laban Goal 45+5'
11 September 2012
20:30 SuperSport Albania
 Switzerland  2 – 0  Albania Swissporarena, Lucerne
Attendance: 16,500[12]
Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hategan (Romania)
Shaqiri Goal 23'
Inler Goal 68' (pen.)		 Report
12 October 2012
19:00 SuperSport Albania
 Albania  1 – 2  Iceland Qemal Stafa National Stadium, Tirana
Attendance: 8,200
Referee: Tony Asumaa (Finland)
Çani Goal 29' Report Bjarnason Goal 19'
G.Sigurðsson Goal 81'
16 October 2012
20:45 SuperSport Albania
 Albania  1 – 0  Slovenia Qemal Stafa National Stadium, Tirana
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)
Roshi Goal 37' Report
22 March 2013
19:00 SuperSport Albania
 Norway  0 – 1  Albania Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Kevin Blom (Netherlands)
Salihi Goal 67'
7 June 2013
 Albania  v  Norway Qemal Stafa National Stadium, Tirana
6 September 2013
 Slovenia  v  Albania Slovenia
10 September 2013
 Iceland  v  Albania Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík
11 October 2013
 Albania  v  Switzerland Qemal Stafa National Stadium, Tirana
15 October 2013
 Cyprus  v  Albania GSP Stadium , Nicosia

Friendlies [edit]

14 August 2013
 Albania  v  Armenia Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana
26 March 2013
20:00
 Albania  4–1  Lithuania Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Ivalos Stojanov(Bulgaria)
Meha Goal 33'
Cani Goal 38'
Basha Goal 43'
Palionis (o.g.)		 Razulis Goal 75'
06 February 2013
20:30
 Albania  1 – 2  Georgia Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana
Attendance: 6,500
Referee: Dimitar Meckarovski (Republic of Macedonia)
Bogdani Goal 25' LobjanidzeGoal 40'
VatsadzeGoal 82'
14 November 2012
20:45
 Albania  0 – 0  Cameroon Stade de Genève, Genève
Attendance: 4,600
Referee: Stephan Studer (Switzerland)
15 August 2012
20:30
 Albania  0 – 0  Moldova Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Yunus Yıldırım (Turkey)
27 May 2012
19:00
 Albania  1 – 0  Iran BJK İnönü Stadium, İstanbul
Attendance: 8,500
Referee: Hüseyin Göçek (Turkey)
Vila Goal 60'
22 May 2012
20:00
 Albania  2 – 1  Qatar Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, Madrid
Attendance: 100
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain)
Bakaj Goal 46'
Bogdani Goal 50'		 Y.Ahmed Goal 53'

Current squad [edit]

The following players were nominated for the match against Norway on March 22, 2013, and the friendly against Lithuania, four days later.[13]

Caps and goals as of 26 March 2013.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Samir Ujkani (1988-07-05) July 5, 1988 (age 24) 20 0 Italy A.C. Chievo Verona
12 1GK Etrit Berisha (1989-03-10) March 10, 1989 (age 24) 8 0 Sweden Kalmar FF
23 1GK Orges Shehi (1977-09-20) September 20, 1977 (age 35) 2 0 Albania Skënderbeu Korçë
2 2DF Andi Lila (1986-02-12) February 12, 1986 (age 27) 37 0 Greece PAS Giannina
3 2DF Tefik Osmani (1985-06-08) June 8, 1985 (age 27) 10 0 Albania Teuta Durrës
4 2DF Armend Dallku (1983-06-16) June 16, 1983 (age 29) 60 2 Ukraine FC Vorskla Poltava
6 2DF Debatik Curri (1984-12-28) December 28, 1984 (age 28) 35 1 Turkey Gençlerbirliği S.K.
15 2DF Mërgim Mavraj (1986-06-09) June 9, 1986 (age 26) 11 0 Germany SpVgg Greuther Fürth
20 2DF Elseid Hisaj (1994-02-20) February 20, 1994 (age 19) 3 0 Italy Empoli F.C.
5 3MF Lorik Cana (Captain) (1983-07-27) July 27, 1983 (age 29) 66 1 Italy S.S. Lazio
7 3MF Ansi Agolli (1982-10-11) October 11, 1982 (age 30) 36 2 Azerbaijan FK Qarabağ
8 3MF Ervin Bulku (1981-03-03) March 3, 1981 (age 32) 50 1 Iran Sepahan Isfahan
10 3MF Jahmir Hyka (1988-03-08) March 8, 1988 (age 25) 31 2 Switzerland FC Luzern
11 3MF Emiljano Vila (1988-03-12) March 12, 1988 (age 25) 21 2 Greece PAS Giannina
14 3MF Migjen Basha (1987-06-09) June 9, 1987 (age 25) 2 1 Italy Torino F.C.
16 3MF Armando Vajushi (1991-12-03) December 3, 1991 (age 21) 5 0 Bulgaria PFC Litex Lovech
17 3MF Alban Meha (1987-04-25) April 25, 1987 (age 26) 4 1 Germany SC Paderborn 07
18 3MF Valdet Rama (1987-11-20) November 20, 1987 (age 25) 1 0 Spain Real Valladolid
21 3MF Odise Roshi (1991-05-22) May 22, 1991 (age 21) 12 1 Germany FSV Frankfurt
9 4FW Edgar Çani (1989-07-22) 22 July 1989 (age 23) 10 4 Italy Catania
13 4FW Hamdi Salihi (1984-01-19) January 19, 1984 (age 29) 43 10 China Jiangsu Sainty
19 4FW Armando Sadiku (1991-05-27) May 27, 1991 (age 21) 10 1 Switzerland Lugano
22 4FW Erjon Bogdani (1977-04-14) April 14, 1977 (age 36) 76 19 Italy Siena

Recent call-ups [edit]

The following players have been called up in the last 12 months:

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Isli Hidi (1980-10-15) 15 October 1980 (age 32) 15 0 Cyprus AEL Limassol v.  Macedonia, 15 November 2011
DF Renato Arapi (1986-08-28) 28 August 1986 (age 26) 3 0 Albania Skënderbeu Korçë v.  Georgia, 6 February 2013
DF Admir Teli (1981-06-02) 2 June 1981 (age 31) 14 0 Azerbaijan Qarabağ v.  Macedonia, 15 November 2011
DF Kristi Vangjeli (1985-09-05) 5 September 1985 (age 27) 33 0 Ukraine Chornomorets Odesa v.  Cameroon, 14 November 2012
MF Elis Bakaj (1987-06-25) June 25, 1987 (age 25) 25 1 Ukraine Chornomorets Odesa v.  Georgia, 6 February 2013
MF Gjergji Muzaka (1984-09-26) September 26, 1984 (age 28) 22 1 Albania Flamurtari Vlorë v.  Georgia, 6 February 2013
MF Burim Kukeli (1984-01-19) January 19, 1984 (age 29) 4 0 Switzerland Zürich v.  Slovenia, 16 October 2012
MF Ledian Memushaj (1986-12-07) 7 December 1986 (age 26) 2 0 Italy Lecce v.  Moldova, 15 August 2012
MF Mërgim Brahimi (1992-08-08) 8 August 1992 (age 20) 1 0 Switzerland Grasshoppers v.  Iran, 27 May 2012
MF Gilman Lika (1987-01-13) 13 January 1987 (age 26) 18 0 Albania Tirana v.  Georgia, 6 February 2013
FW Ahmed Januzi (1988-07-08) 8 July 1988 (age 24) 5 0 Ukraine Vorskla Poltava v.  Switzerland, 11 September 2012
FW Edmond Kapllani (1982-07-31) 31 July 1982 (age 30) 36 6 Germany FSV Frankfurt v.  Macedonia, 15 November 2011
FW Bekim Balaj (1991-01-11) 11 January 1991 (age 22) 2 0 Czech Republic Sparta Prague v.  Georgia, 6 February 2013

Coaching staff [edit]

According to the FSHF website, the following is the current coaching staff:[14]

Head Coach Italy Gianni De Biasi
Assistant Coach Italy Paolo Tramezzani
Assistant Coach Italy Angelo Pereni
Fitness Coach Italy Alberto Belle
Goalkeeping Coach Albania Ilir Bozhiqi
National Team Manager Albania Alban Bushi
Team Doctor Albania Arben Celiku

Stadium [edit]

Old Qemal Stafa Stadium as seen from the Sheraton hotel.
Main article: Qemal Stafa Stadium

Supporters [edit]

Main article: Tifozat Kuq e Zi

Kit History [edit]

The Albanian kit has been mostly red and black with small changes through years.

Managerial History [edit]

This is a chronological list of the 22 managers who have guided Albania since 1946 (note that Bejkush Birçe and Agron Sulaj have had the job twice):[15]

  1. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ljubiša Broćić
  2. Albania Adem Karapici
  3. Albania Sllave Llambi
  4. Albania Ludovik Jakova
  5. Albania Myslim Alla
  6. Hungary Miklos Vadas
  7. Albania Loro Boriçi
  8. Soviet Union Nikolai Lyuksinov
  9. Albania Zyber Konçi
  10. Albania Ilia Shuke
  11. Albania Shyqyri Rreli
  12. Albania Agron Sulaj
  13. Albania Bejkush Birçe
  14. Albania Agron Sulaj
  15. Albania Bejkush Birçe
  16. Albania Neptun Bajko
  17. Albania Astrit Hafizi
  18. Albania Medin Zhega
  19. Albania Sulejman Demollari
  20. Italy Giuseppe Dossena
  21. Germany Hans-Peter Briegel
  22. Croatia Austria Otto Barić
  23. Netherlands Arie Haan
  24. Croatia Josip Kuže
  25. Italy Gianni De Biasi

Players [edit]

Individual all-time records [edit]

  Still active players are highlighted
# Name Career Caps Goals
1
Altin Lala
 1998–2011 79 3
2
Klodian Duro
 2001–2011 78 6
3
Erjon Bogdani
 1999- 76 19
4
Ervin Skela
 2000-2011 75 13
5
Foto Strakosha
 1990-2004 73 0
6
Igli Tare
 1997-2007 68 10
7
Alban Bushi
 1995-2011 68 14
8
Altin Haxhi
 1995-2009 67 3
9
Lorik Cana
 2003- 66 1
10
Altin Rraklli
 1992-2005 63 11

Top goalscorers [edit]

Below is a list of the 10 players with the most goals for Albania, as of February 7, 2013 (* denotes players still available for selection):[16]

# Name Career Goals Caps
1
Erion Bogdani
 1999- 19 76
2
Alban Bushi
 1995-2011 14 68
3
Ervin Skela
 2000-2011 13 75
4
Altin Rraklli
 1992-2005 11 63
5
Sokol Kushta
 1987-1996 10 31
6
Hamdi Salihi
 2007- 10 43
7
Igli Tare
 1997-2007 10 68
8
Adrian Aliaj
 2002-2006 8 29
9
Bledar Kola
 1994-2007 6 39
10
Edmond Kapllani
 2004-2011 6 36

Honours [edit]

  • Winners of VIII Balkan Cup (Tirana, October 1946)
  • Winners of Rothmans Football International Tournament (Valletta, February 4 — February 10, 2000)[17]

World Cup record [edit]

Main article: Albania national football team results
  • 1930 to 1962 – Did not participate
  • 1966 – Did not qualify
  • 1970 – Entry not accepted[18]
  • 1974 – Did not qualify
  • 1978 – Did not participate
  • 1982 to 2010 – Did not qualify

UEFA European Championship record [edit]

Main article: Albania national football team results
  • 1960 - Did not participate
  • 1964 - Did not qualify
  • 1968 - Did not qualify
  • 1972 - Did not participate
  • 1976 - 1980 - Did not participate
  • 1984 - 2012 - Did not qualify

Head-to-Head records against other countries [edit]

Opponent Games Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Differential
 Algeria 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
 Andorra 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2
 Argentina 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4
 Armenia 2 0 1 1 1 4 -4
 Austria 6 0 0 6 1 17 -16
 Azerbaijan 5 3 1 1 5 3 +2
 Bahrain 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3
 Belarus 4 1 1 2 5 8 -3
 Belgium 2 1 0 1 3 3 =0
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 1 2 1 3 3 =0
 Bulgaria 11 2 4 5 8 15 -7
 China PR 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0
 Cuba 1 0 1 0 0 0 =0
 Cyprus 5 2 1 2 12 7 +5
 Czech Republic 5 2 0 3 6 10 -4
 Cameroon 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Denmark 8 1 1 6 3 18 -15
 England 4 0 0 4 1 12 -11
 Estonia 3 1 2 0 3 1 +2
 Finland 7 2 1 4 6 8 -2
 France 4 0 0 4 1 11 -10
 Georgia 13 3 2 8 11 21 -10
 Germany 14 0 1 13 10 38 -28
 Greece 13 4 3 6 10 13 -3
 Hungary 5 0 1 4 0 18 -18
 Iceland 3 2 0 1 3 3 =0
 Iran 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Kazakhstan 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2
 Latvia 5 0 5 0 6 6 =0
 Liechtenstein 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Lithuania 4 2 0 2 7 6 +1
 Luxembourg 5 3 1 1 7 2 +5
 Malta 7 4 2 1 12 3 +9
 Mexico 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4
 Macedonia 8 1 3 4 4 10 -6
 Moldova 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4
 Netherlands 4 0 0 4 1 7 -6
 Montenegro 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7
 Northern Ireland 9 2 2 5 5 13 -8
 Norway 5 2 1 2 3 3 0
 Poland 11 1 3 7 7 14 -7
 Portugal 5 0 1 4 4 12 -8
 Qatar 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
 Republic of Ireland 4 0 1 3 2 6 -4
 Romania 15 2 3 10 9 40 -31
 Russia 2 1 0 1 4 5 -1
 San Marino 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
 Yugoslavia 5 0 1 4 4 13 -9
 Slovenia 6 1 2 3 2 5 -3
 Spain 5 0 0 5 2 24 -22
 Sweden 5 1 1 3 5 10 -5
 Switzerland 5 0 1 4 3 9 -6
 Turkey 9 3 2 4 11 8 +3
 Ukraine 4 0 1 3 2 6 -4
 Uzbekistan 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Vietnam 1 1 0 0 5 0 +5
 Wales 2 0 1 1 1 3 -2
58 Countries 268 64 57 147 236 438 −202

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b FIFAAlbania. "Albania in FIFA website". FIFA. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c Kirill. "Eloratings.net". Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  3. ^ a b c Kirill (16 August 2010). "Albania matches". Kirill. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  4. ^ Giovanni Armillotta: Kryeziu, Lushta, Boriçi e Llambi 31.03.2008
  5. ^ AFP. "Haan named Albania boss". FIFA (FIFA). Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  6. ^ Albania suspension lifted by FIFA[dead link]
  7. ^ FIFA says its emergency committee has decided to lift suspension of Albania[dead link]
  8. ^ FIFA lifts suspension of Albania over alleged interference
  9. ^ JOSIP KUZHE TRAJNER I SHQIPËRISË Televizioni Koha 19/5/2009
  10. ^ "Albania name De Biasi coach". Fifa.com. 2011-12-14. Retrieved 2011-12-14. 
  11. ^ http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=258374/match=300182251/report.html
  12. ^ http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=258374/match=300182246/report.html
  13. ^ "De Biazi: Me Norvegjine, dy ndeshje kyce te eliminatoreve". Panorama Sport. Retrieved 18 March2012. 
  14. ^ FSHF. "The Team" (in Albanian). Albanian Federation of Football. Retrieved March 6, 2013. 
  15. ^ "Lukshinov: Enver Hoxha's passion of soccer (11/10/2009)". Albania-sport.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27. 
  16. ^ "Albania – Record International Players – Goals". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27. 
  17. ^ Malta 2000 Events[dead link]
  18. ^ "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 13 December 2011. 

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