Albania national football team

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Albania
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Kuq e Zinjtë
(Red and Blacks)
AssociationFootball Association of Albania
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachCroatia Josip Kuže
CaptainAltin Lala
Most capsFoto Strakosha (73)
Top scorerAlban Bushi (14)
Home stadiumQemal Stafa
FIFA codeALB
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current70[1]
Highest62 (August 2006[2])
Lowest124 (August 1997[2])
First international
Albania Albania 2–3 Yugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(Tirana, Albania; October 7, 1946)[3]
Biggest win
Albania Albania 6-1 Cyprus Cyprus
(Tirana, Albania August 12, 2009)[3]
Biggest defeat
Hungary Hungary 12–0 Albania Albania
(Budapest, Hungary; September 24, 1950)[3]

The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania. Although not considered as one of the strongest footballing sides in Europe, Albanians are passionate about their football and the national team has occasionally managed to perform well against more illustrious opponents.

Founded on June 6, 1930, Albania had to wait 16 years to play the first international match, debuting against Yugoslavia in 1946. In 1932, Albania had already joined FIFA (during the congress June 12 — June 16) and in 1954, it was one of the founding members of UEFA. Albania had been invited to play in 1934 World Cup, but owing to organizing difficulties, it didn't take part.

In addition to the senior football team, Albania also has teams of U21, U19, U17 and U15 level. One of the most successful is the feeder of the senior team, the U21 level. In the finals of the Euro 1984 U21 championship, they went all the way to the quarter-finals, only to be knocked out by Italy 2–0 on aggregate. They became the only Albanian team in any level to qualify for a competitive tournament. Currently Albania does not have a women's national team, but only a national league.


History of Balkan Cup, Euro Cup and World Cup Participations

Results in History

Main article: Albania national football team results

Recent developments

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

Albania started their 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign against Sweden on September 6, 2008. They have been drawn in Group 1 with Sweden, Portugal, Denmark, Hungary and Malta.

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]

FIFA World Cup 2010

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 1

Albania kicked the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification off to a good start with a 0-0 tie against Sweden. Four days later, the Albanians defeated Malta by a score of 3-0 with 2 of the goals coming from Armend Dallku and another from Klodian Duro. On October 11 however, the Albanians lost to Hungary 2-0 in Budapest. But surprised the world by drawing 0-0 with Portugal in Braga. On February 11, Albania were only able to draw with Malta who fought hard at Ta'Qali. Albania then lost to Hungary at home 1-0 on March 28. And on April 1, Albania suffered a heavy blow to Denmark 3-0. In the home leg against Portugal, Hugo Almeida scored early for Portugal, but Albania quickly equalised with a goal from Erjon Bogdani. However, with just a few seconds left in the game, Bruno Alves scored the winner for Portugal, eliminating Albania. The last memorable result was a 1-1 tie with Denmark, drawing the game after being behind. Albania ended the campaign with a disappointing 4-1 loss against Sweden.

Template:2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 1

UEFA Euro Cup 2012

Main article: UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group D

The draw for the qualifying rounds of UEFA Euro 2012 was held on 7 February 2010 in Congress Hall of Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw, with matches set to begin on 3–4 September 2010.[9] Seedings were based on the UEFA national team coefficient ranking.[10][11] Albania was drawn in Group D along with France, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, and Luxembourg.

Current squad

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Arjan Beqaj (1976-08-25) August 25, 1976 (age 47) 36 0 Cyprus Olympiakos Nicosia
12 1GK Isli Hidi (1980-10-15) October 15, 1980 (age 43) 12 0 Albania Dinamo Tirana
1GK Samir Ujkani (1988-07-05) July 5, 1988 (age 35) 4 0 Italy Novara
3 2DF Kristi Vangjeli (1985-09-05) September 5, 1985 (age 38) 19 0 Greece Aris Thessaloniki
6 2DF Debatik Curri (1983-12-28) December 28, 1983 (age 40) 29 1 Turkey Gençlerbirliği
4 2DF Armend Dallku (1984-10-16) October 16, 1984 (age 39) 36 2 Ukraine Vorskla Poltava
2DF Ditmar Bicaj (1989-02-26) February 26, 1989 (age 35) 0 0 Albania Tirana
15 2DF Endrit Vrapi (1982-05-23) May 23, 1982 (age 42) 9 0 Albania Skenderbeu
5 3MF Lorik Cana(captain) (1983-07-27) July 27, 1983 (age 40) 43 1 Turkey Galatasaray
7 3MF Ansi Agolli (1982-10-11) October 11, 1982 (age 41) 9 2 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
8 3MF Ervin Bulku (1981-03-03) March 3, 1981 (age 43) 18 0 Croatia Hajduk Split
10 3MF Klodian Duro (1977-12-21) December 21, 1977 (age 46) 59 4 Austria LASK Linz
11 3MF Jahmir Hyka (1988-03-08) March 8, 1988 (age 36) 7 1 Greece Panionios GSS
13 3MF Ervin Skela (vice-captain) (1976-11-17) November 17, 1976 (age 47) 59 12 Germany Koblenz
14 3MF Altin Lala (vice-captain) (1975-11-18) November 18, 1975 (age 48) 71 3 Germany Hannover
17 3MF Gilman Lika (1987-01-13) January 13, 1987 (age 37) 4 0 Turkey Diyarbakırspor
28 3MF Emiljano Vila (1988-03-12) March 12, 1988 (age 36) 6 1 Albania Dinamo Tirana
3MF Gjergji Muzaka (1984-09-26) September 26, 1984 (age 39) 5 0 Albania Dinamo Tirana
3MF Emiliano Veliaj (1985-02-09) February 9, 1985 (age 39) 2 0 Albania Laçi
9 4FW Edmond Kapllani (1982-07-31) July 31, 1982 (age 41) 26 7 Germany FC Augsburg
22 4FW Erjon Bogdani (1977-04-14) April 14, 1977 (age 47) 52 12 Italy Cesena
11 4FW Besart Berisha (1985-07-29) July 29, 1985 (age 38) 17 1 Germany Arminia Bielefeld
18 4FW Hamdi Salihi (1984-01-19) January 19, 1984 (age 40) 16 7 Austria Rapid Wien
4FW Elis Bakaj (1987-06-25) June 25, 1987 (age 36) 8 0 Albania Dinamo Tirana
4FW Ahmed Januzi (1988-07-08) July 8, 1988 (age 35) 0 0 Ukraine Vorskla Poltava
4FW Bekim Bala (1991-01-11) January 11, 1991 (age 33) 0 0 Turkey Gençlerbirliği
4FW Parid Xhihani (1983-07-18) July 18, 1983 (age 40) 0 0 Ukraine Zorya Luhansk

Recent call-ups

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Ervin Llani (1983-04-24) April 24, 1983 (age 41) 14 0 Albania Elbasani
2DF Elvin Beqiri (1980-09-27) September 27, 1980 (age 43) 47 0 Azerbaijan FK Khazar Lankaran
2DF Radosav Petrović (1989-03-08) March 8, 1989 (age 35) 4 0 Albania Patlidžan
2DF Maringlen Shoshi (1987-01-29) January 29, 1987 (age 37) 1 0 Albania Apolonia Fier
2DF Franc Veliu (1987-11-11) November 11, 1987 (age 36) 1 0 Albania Flamurtari
3MF Dorian Bylykbashi (1980-08-08) August 8, 1980 (age 43) 3 0 Albania Elbasani
4FW Xhevahir Sukaj (1987-10-05) October 5, 1987 (age 36) 1 0 Croatia Zagreb
4FW Migen Memelli (1980-04-25) April 25, 1980 (age 44) 1 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Faisaly


Coaching staff

According to the FSHF website, the following is the current coaching staff:[12]

Head Coach Croatia Josip Kuže
Assistant Coach Bosnia and Herzegovina Džemal Mustedanagić
Goalkeeping Coach Albania Ilir Bozhiqi
Team Doctor Albania
Physios Belgium Stijn Vandenbroucke
Albania Ylli Mihali

Stadia

Qemal Stafa Stadium as seen from the Sheraton hotel.

Most of the matches of Albanian national team have been played in Qemal Stafa. The stadium was built in 1946 as a multi-use stadium.[13] Today, it is mostly used for football matches. The stadium is an all-seater with a capacity of 19,600 spectators.[14]

Albania has also used the Loro-Boriçi stadium in Shkodra, where Albania have had some successful matches, such as the success against Russia 3–1 in a home Euro 2004 qualifying match, and the Niko Dovana Stadium in Durrës in a friendly against Uzbekistan in August 11, 2010.[15]

The Football Association of Albania has disclosed that there are no current plans to build a new stadium, unless the Albanian government provides funding for the ground.[16]

Supporters

Albania has a supporters' association, the Tifozat Kuq e Zi. The association self-finances their activities.[17][dead link]

Statistics

Managerial History

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):[18]

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

Players

Most appearances

Below is a list of the 10 players with the most appearances for Albania, as of November 14, 2009 (* denotes players still available for selection):[19]

No Name Matches Goals First game (age) Last game (age)
1 Klajdi Jaupi 73 0 5-30-1990 08-13-2004 (39)
2 Altin Lala* 69 3 1998 3-28-2009 (33)
3 Igli Tare 68 10 1997 7-2-2007 (33)
4 Alban Bushi* 67 14 1995 17-11-2007 (34)
5 Altin Haxhi* 66 3 1995 11-14-2009 (32)
6 Ervin Skela* 64 12 2000 (23) 11-14-2009 (32)
7 Altin Rraklli 63 11 1992 30-3-2005 (34)
8 Klodian Duro* 61 3 2000 (22) 11-14-2009 (31)
9 Rudi Vata 59 5 30-5-1990 (21) 1-9-2001 (32)
10 Erion Bogdani* 52 12 1996 11-14-2009 (32)

Top goalscorers

Below is a list of the 10 players with the most goals for Albania, as of March 17, 2010 (* denotes players still available for selection):[20]

No Name First game Last game Goals Caps Goals per Match
1 Alban Bushi* 1995 2007 14 67 0.21
2 Ervin Skela* 2000 2009 13 65 0.20
3 Erjon Bogdani* 1996 2009 12 53 0.23
4 Altin Rraklli 1992 2005 11 63 0.17
5 Sokol Kushta 1987 1996 10 31 0.32
6 Igli Tare 1997 2007 10 68 0.15
7 Adrian Aliaj 2002 2006 8 29 0.28
8 Loro Borici 1946 1958 6 23 0.26
9 Edmond Kapllani* 2004 2008 6 26 0.24
10 Bledar Kola 1994 2001 6 39 0.15

Honours

Senior team

  • Winners of VIII Balkan Cup (Tirana, October 1946)
  • Winners of Rothmans Football International Tournament (Valletta, February 4 — February 10, 2000)[21]

Albania U-23

Albania U-21

Albania U-18

Albania U-17

  • 2nd place in Rijeka Tournament 1996 in Croatia

Albania U-16

  • 2nd place in Nereo Rocco Tournament 1996 in Italy

Albania U-15

  • Winners of Beato Annibale Maria di Francia Tournament 1996 in Italy
  • 3rd place in Balkan Cup 2001 in Albania

Albania U-14

  • 2nd place in Primavera Tournament 1995 in Italy

World Cup record

  • 1930 to 1962 - Did not participate
  • 1966 - Did not qualify
  • 1970 - Did not participate
  • 1974 - Did not qualify
  • 1978 - Did not participate
  • 1982 to 2010 - Did not qualify

European Championship record

See also

References

  1. ^ FIFA (10 August 2010). "FIFA Coca Cola Ranking". Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b FIFAAlbania. "Albania in FIFA website". FIFA. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Kirill (16 August 2010). "Albania matches". Kirill. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  4. ^ Kirill. "Eloratings.net". Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  5. ^ AFP. "Haan named Albania boss". FIFA. FIFA. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  6. ^ Albania suspension lifted by FIFA
  7. ^ FIFA says its emergency committee has decided to lift suspension of Albania
  8. ^ FIFA lifts suspension of Albania over alleged interference
  9. ^ "UEFA EURO 2012". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  10. ^ Spain among top draw seeds
  11. ^ National Team Coefficients Overview
  12. ^ FSHF. "The Team" (in Albanian). Albanian Federation of Football. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  13. ^ Sauku, Endrit (21 January 2010). "History of the Qemal Stafa Temple". Albania Sport (in Albanian). Dash Frasheri. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  14. ^ Worldstadiums. "Stadia in Albania". Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  15. ^ Frasheri, Dash (11 August 2010). "Albania, modest victory against Uzbekistan" (in Albanian). Albania Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  16. ^ Frasheri, Dash. "Duka: The new stadium? We'll find the money". Albania-sport (in Albanian). Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  17. ^ Tifozat Kuq e Zi
  18. ^ "Lukshinov: Enver Hoxha's passion of soccer (11/10/2009)". Albania-sport.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  19. ^ "Albania - Record International Players". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  20. ^ "Albania - Record International Players - Goals". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  21. ^ Malta 2000 Events

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania_national_football_team&oldid=381166880"