Albania national under-21 football team

Albania U21

Association	Football Association of Albania
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Skënder Gega
Captain	Enco Malindi
Home stadium	Niko Dovana Stadium
FIFA code	ALB
Home colours Away colours
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances	1 (First in 1984)
Best result	Quarter-finals, 1984

The Albania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, which is held held every two years.

In terms of youth football, this team is very amazing and is the highest age group team in which the best young, professional footballers who have were born in Albania, or have Albanian parents or grandparents, can be selected to play in. The team's players have the hope that they can successfully play international football with some success and possibly be called up to play in the full senior Albania team.

Current squad

Head coach: Skender Gega

File:Http://www.albania-sport.com/smallphoto/1313328974skender-gega-dy.jpg

Skender Gega

Goalkeepers

0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club GK Stivi Frasheri January 11, 1990 (1990-01-11) 11 0 KS Bylis Ballsh GK Eni Naço August 23, 1990 (1990-08-23) 1 0 Teuta Durrës GK Mikel Kaloshi April 6, 1993 (1993-16-06) 0 0 KS Lushnja GK Aldi Haxhia October 12, 1991 (1991-22-12) 0 0 Kettering Town|} Defenders 0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club DF Arsen Sykaj April 16, 1990 (1990-04-16) 13 1 Vllaznia Shkodër DF Roland Peqini November 25, 1990 (1990-11-25) 11 0 Dinamo Tirana DF Agonit Sallaj February 14, 1992 (1992-02-14) 8 0 FC Biel-Bienne DF Elvis Prençi June 26, 1993 (1993-06-26) 2 0 KF Tirana DF Arbnor Fejzullahu April 8, 1993 (1993-04-08) 2 0 Besa Kavajë DF Antonio Marku March 24, 1992 (1992-03-24) 0 0 Dinamo Tirana DF Andrea Kule July 2, 1990 (1990-07-02) 0 0 Dinamo Tirana DF Harallamb Qaqi September 17, 1993 (1993-09-17) 0 0 AEK Athens Midfielders 0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club MF Armando Vajushi December 3, 1991 (1991-12-03) 9 1 Litex Lovech MF Imran Bunjaku October 18, 1992 (1992-10-18) 9 0 Grasshopper Zürich MF Mergim Brahimi August 8, 1992 (1992-08-08) 9 1 Grasshopper Zürich MF Altin Hoxha October 21, 1990 (1990-10-21) 4 0 Teuta Durrës MF Bruno Telushi November 14, 1990 (1990-11-14) 4 1 Flamurtari Vlorë MF Erjon Vuçaj December 25, 1990 (1990-12-25) 3 0 KF Laçi MF Albi Dosti September 13, 1991 (1991-09-13) 3 0 Teuta Durrës MF Dorian Kërçiku June 8, 1993 (1993-30-08) 1 0 Skënderbeu Korçë Strikers 0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club FW Bekim Balaj January 11, 1991 (1991-01-11) 13 3 KF Tirana FW Vasil Shkurti February 27, 1992 (1992-02-27) 8 0 Chania FC FW Armando Sadiku May 27, 1991 (1991-05-27) 5 6 FC Locarno FW Fabio Hoxha July 5, 1993 (1993-07-05) 2 0 Varese FW Mario Morina October 16, 1992 (1992-10-16) 0 0 KF Tirana 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Main article: 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania Under-21's have only ever managed to qualify for any competition once in their history, and that came in the year of 1984 when they managed to qualify for the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. They were drawn in a very tough group which included the West Germany, Turkey and Austria. This historic event in Albanian football history is the only occasion where any Albanian national team has ever managed to qualify for a major European or even World championship. To this day the team that qualified for 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship are still regarded as the most successful team in Albanian history. This is because they managed to qualify without losing a single game and managing two very good draws against one of the biggest and best footballing nations on the planet, Germany (West Germany). Qualifying Qualifying Group 6 P W D L F A Pts 1 Albania 6 4 2 0 9 3 10 2 West Germany 6 3 3 0 13 4 9 3 Turkey 6 1 1 4 6 11 3 4 Austria 6 0 2 4 4 14 2 Austria 1-2 Albania Turkey 0-1 Albania Albania 1-1 W.Germany Albania 1-0 Turkey Albania 3-0 Austria W.Germany 1-1 Albania Albania qualify as group winners. West Germany failed to qualify despite being undefetead. Quarter-finals After the Albania national under-21 football team qualified for the actual tournament, they were drawn against a tough opponent, Italy. In Tirana, Albania showed much spirit and determination, but in the end the class of Italy managed to just scrape a win against Albania through a goal of Vignola. The return match also ended 1–0 for the Azzuri. Italy won 2–0 on aggregate and made it through to the semi-finals where they were knocked out by the runners-up Spain. Albania 0–1 Italy Italy 1–0 Albania Italy win 2–0 on aggregate References See also Albania national football team Albania national under-17 football team Albania national under-19 football team Albania national youth football team