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Albania national football team

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Albania
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Kuq e Zinjtë
(The Red and Blacks)
Shqiponjat
(Eagles)
AssociationFederata Shqiptare e Futbollit
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachItaly Gianni De Biasi
CaptainLorik Cana
Most capsAltin Lala (79)
Top scorerErjon Bogdani (15)
Home stadiumQemal Stafa
FIFA codeALB
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current78[1][2]
Highest50 (April 2011[3])
Lowest124 (August 1997[3])
First international
Albania Albania 2–3 Yugoslavia 
(Tirana, Albania; October 7, 1946)[4]
Biggest win
Albania Albania 6–1 Cyprus 
(Tirana, Albania; August 12, 2009)[4]
Biggest defeat
 Hungary 12–0 Albania Albania
(Budapest, Hungary; September 24, 1950)[4]
European Championship
Appearances1 (first in 1964)
Best resultRound of 16, 1964

The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania.

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 joined FIFA (during the congress June 12 — June 16) and in 1954, it was one of the founding members of UEFA.

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's head coach. Haan signed a two-year contract on January 4, 2008.[6]

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.[7][8][9]

FIFA World Cup 2010

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

Albania started 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification with a 0–0 draw against Sweden. Four days later, the Albanians defeated Malta 3–0 with goals from Erion Bogdani Armend Dallku and Klodian Duro. On 11 October Albania lost 2-0 to Hungary in Budapest and then drew 0–0 with Portugal in Braga. On 11 February, Albania drew versus Malta in Ta'Qali. Albania then lost 1-0 to Hungary at home on 28 March and 3-0 to Denmark on 1 April. In the home match against Portugal, Hugo Almeida scored early for Portugal, before Albania 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. At the end of the campaign 1Albania drew 1-1 against Denmark and lost 4-1 to 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.[10] Seedings were based on the UEFA national team coefficient ranking.[11][12] Albania was drawn in Group D along with France, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, and Luxembourg.

Group D

Main article: UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group D

Template:UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group D

Results and fixtures

Group D fixtures were negotiated between the participants at a meeting in Luxembourg on 19 February 2010.[13]

Romania 1 – 1 Albania
Stancu 80' Report Muzaka 87'
Attendance: 13,000
Albania 1 – 0 Luxembourg
Salihi 37' Report
Attendance: 11,800
Albania 1 – 1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Duro 45+2' Report Ibišević 21'
Attendance: 19,600
Belarus 2 – 0 Albania
Rodionov 10'
Krivets 77'		 Report
Attendance: 7,000
Albania 1 – 0 Belarus
Salihi 62' Report
Attendance: 18,000
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 – 0 Albania
Medunjanin 67'
Maletić 90+1'		 Report
Attendance: 9,000
Albania 1 – 2 France
Bogdani 46' Report Benzema 11'
M'Vila 18'
Attendance: 20'000
Luxembourg 2 – 1 Albania
Bettmer 27'
Joachim 78'		 Report Bogdani 64'
Attendance: 2'300
France 3 – 0 Albania
Malouda 11'
Rémy 37'
Réveillère 66'		 Report
Attendance: 67,000
Albania 1 – 1 Romania
Salihi 24' Report Luchin 77'
Attendance: 6'500

Friendlies

North Macedonia 0 – 0 Albania
Attendance: 3'000
Albania 0 – 1 Azerbaijan
Aliyev 22'
Attendance: 1'540
Albania 1 – 2 Slovenia
Bulku 62' Novakovič 24'
Dedič 90+2'
Attendance: 7'500
Argentina 4 – 0 Albania
Lavezzi 6'
Messi 43'
Agüero 75'
Tévez 90'
Attendance: 31'000
Albania 3 – 2 Montenegro
Bogdani 33'
Hyka 64'
Salihi 69'		 Savić 40'
Savić 47'
Attendance: 7'000

Current squad

Players called up for Friendly matches against Azerbaijan on 11 November 2011, and Macedonia on 15 November 2011.

Caps and goals as of 16 November 2011.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Samir Ujkani (1988-07-05) July 5, 1988 (age 35) 13 0 Italy Novara Calcio
12 1GK Isli Hidi (1980-10-15) October 15, 1980 (age 43) 17 0 Cyprus AEL Limassol
2 2DF Andi Lila (1986-02-12) February 12, 1986 (age 38) 25 0 Greece PAS Giannina
3 2DF Kristi Vangjeli (1985-09-05) September 5, 1985 (age 38) 32 0 Ukraine Chornomorets Odesa
4 2DF Armend Dallku (1983-06-16) June 16, 1983 (age 41) 48 2 Ukraine Vorskla Poltava
6 2DF Franc Veliu (1988-11-11) November 11, 1988 (age 35) 3 0 Albania Flamurtari Vlorë
7 2DF Ansi Agolli (1982-10-11) October 11, 1982 (age 41) 29 2 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
16 2DF Admir Teli (1981-06-02) June 2, 1981 (age 43) 15 0 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
26 2DF Debatik Curri (1984-12-28) December 28, 1984 (age 39) 34 1 Turkey Gençlerbirligi
5 3MF Lorik Cana (captain) (1983-07-27) July 27, 1983 (age 40) 56 1 Italy Lazio
8 3MF Ervin Bulku (1981-03-03) March 3, 1981 (age 43) 36 1 Azerbaijan AZAL Baku
10 3MF Jahmir Hyka (1988-03-08) March 8, 1988 (age 36) 27 2 Switzerland Luzern
11 3MF Emiljano Vila (1988-03-12) March 12, 1988 (age 36) 11 1 Greece PAS Giannina
13 3MF Sabjen Lilaj (1989-02-10) February 10, 1989 (age 35) 3 0 Croatia Lokomotiva
19 3MF Elis Bakaj (1987-07-25) July 25, 1987 (age 36) 23 0 Romania Dinamo Bucureşti
17 3MF Gilman Lika (1987-01-13) January 13, 1987 (age 37) 15 0 Albania Tirana
20 3MF Gjergji Muzaka (1984-09-26) September 26, 1984 (age 39) 20 1 Albania Skënderbeu Korçë
21 3MF Odise Roshi (1991-05-22) May 22, 1991 (age 33) 4 0 Germany Köln
9 4FW Edmond Kapllani (1982-07-31) July 31, 1982 (age 41) 34 7 Germany Augsburg
15 4FW Ahmed Januzi (1988-07-08) July 8, 1988 (age 35) 4 0 Ukraine Vorskla Poltava
18 4FW Hamdi Salihi (1984-01-19) January 19, 1984 (age 40) 32 9 United States DC United
25 4FW Xhevahir Sukaj (1987-10-05) October 5, 1987 (age 36) 1 0 Iran Sepahan
22 4FW Erjon Bogdani (1977-04-14) April 14, 1977 (age 47) 64 15 Italy Siena

Recent call-ups

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

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
DF Renato Arapi (1986-09-28) 28 September 1986 (age 37) 1 0 Albania Skënderbeu Korçë v.  Argentina, 20 June 2011
DF Ditmar Bicaj (1989-02-26) 26 February 1989 (age 35) 2 0 Albania Skënderbeu Korçë v.  Argentina, 20 June 2011
DF Endrit Vrapi (1982-03-23) 23 March 1982 (age 42) 11 0 Albania Skënderbeu Korçë v.  Argentina, 20 June 2011
MF Ledian Memushaj (1986-12-07) 7 December 1986 (age 37) 2 0 Italy Carpi v.  Slovenia, 9 February 2011
MF Armando Vajushi (1991-12-03) 3 December 1991 (age 32) 1 0 Bulgaria Litex Lovech v.  Argentina, 20 June 2011
MF Altin Lala (1975-11-18) 18 November 1975 (age 48) 79 3 Germany Hannover 96 v.  Romania, 11 October 2011
MF Klodian Duro Error: Need valid birth date: year, month, day 78 6 Albania KF Tirana v.  France, 7 October 2011
FW Besart Berisha (1985-07-29) 29 July 1985 (age 38) 14 2 Australia Brisbane Roar v.  Sweden, 14 October 2009

Coaching staff

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

Head Coach Italy Gianni De Biasi
Assistant Coach Bosnia and Herzegovina Džemal Mustedanagić
Goalkeeping Coach Albania Ilir Bozhiqi
National Team Manager Albania Denis Bastari
Team Doctor Albania Arben Celiku
Physios Germany Achim Bullinger
Albania Ylli Mihali

Stadium

Old Qemal Stafa Stadium as seen from the Sheraton hotel.

The Qemal Stafa Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi Qemal Stafa), named after Qemal Stafa, a World War II hero, is a national stadium and the largest football stadium in Tirana, Albania. Construction started in 1939 and the stadium was inaugurated in 1946 for the Balkan Cup, which was won by the Albania national football team. The stadium has been used for football matches of the Albanian Superliga and the national team, for athletic events, and for the six Albanian Spartakiads. Although it was enlarged in 1974 to accommodate up to 35,000 spectators, in the 1990s it became an all-seater stadium, and its capacity was reduced to the current 19,600. Plans to demolish the current stadium and begin construction of a new one right after the Qualifiers for Euro 2012 have already been approved by the Football Association of Albania and the Albanian government, which will divide the property rights to the stadium between them; the football association will hold 75% rights and the government 25%. A new stadium with a capacity of over 33,000 spectators will be built at a cost of €60 million. The new stadium will be football-only; the athletics track will be eliminated. It will have the shape of the map of Albania, and its outside will be black and red, the colours of the Albanian flag. The outside shape will be rugged to harmonise with the mountainous skyline of Tirana. The stadium is expected to meet the highest UEFA category.

Renaming

In January 2010, after the death of notable Albanian player Panajot Pano, an official request from the Partizani Tirana club and from the Albanian Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports was addressed to the Albanian government, that the stadium be renamed for the famous footballer.

Supporters

Tifozat Kuq e Zi (English: Red and Black Fans, also known as the Albania National Football Team Supporters Club) is a non-profit football supporters' association for the Albania national football team and various national team sportive activities. It was founded on December 25, 2003. In cooperation with FSHF, it organises trips for football fans to visit games, and develops and sells merchandise to support itself and fund sporting related projects. Tifozat Kuq e Zi stands firm in the political view that Albanians should share only one national team and have continuous aspirations to join in one state. In this sense, TKZ is joined by different supporters' associations throughout Albanian-speaking regions mainly in Kosovo (Plisat-Dardanët of Pristina etc.), Republic of Macedonia (Ballistët of Tetovo, Sokolat of Debar, Ilirët of Kumanovo, etc.) and in Albania itself. 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 banning of Albania from international sportive activities.

Kit History

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

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):[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 Ljuksinov
  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 Otto Baric
  23. Netherlands Arie Haan
  24. Croatia Josip Kuže
  25. Italy Gianni De Biasi

Players

Most appearances

Below is a list of the 10 players with the most appearances for Albania, as of November 16, 2011 (* denotes players still available for selection):[16]

No Name Matches Goals First game (age) Last game (age)
1 Altin Lala* 79 3 1998 11-10-2011 (35)
2 Klodian Duro* 78 6 2001 (23) 07-10-2011 (33)
3 Ervin Skela* 75 13 2000 (22) 06-09-2011 (34)
4 Foto Strakosha 73 0 5-30-1990 08-13-2004 (39)
5 Igli Tare 68 10 1997 07-02-2007 (33)
5 Alban Bushi 68 14 1995 17-11-2007 (34)
7 Altin Haxhi 67 3 1995 14-11-2009 (32)
8 Erion Bogdani* 65 15 1996 11-11-2011 (34)
9 Altin Rraklli 63 11 1992 30-03-2005 (34)
10 Rudi Vata 59 5 30-5-1990 (21) 01-09-2001 (32)

Top goalscorers

Below is a list of the 10 players with the most goals for Albania, as of November 16, 2011 (* denotes players still available for selection):[17]

No Name First game Last game Goals Caps Goals per Match
1 Erion Bogdani* 1996 2011 15 65 0.22
2 Alban Bushi 1995 2007 14 68 0.21
3 Ervin Skela* 2000 2011 13 75 0.17
4 Altin Rraklli 1992 2005 11 61 0.17
5 Sokol Kushta 1987 1996 10 31 0.32
5 Igli Tare 1997 2007 10 68 0.15
7 Hamdi Salihi* 2006 2011 9 37 0.24
8 Adrian Aliaj 2002 2006 8 29 0.28
9 Bledar Kola 1994 2007 6 39 0.15
9 Klodian Duro* 2001 2011 6 78 0.08
10 Edmond Kapllani* 2004 2011 6 36 0.17

Honours

  • Winners of VIII Balkan Cup (Tirana, October 1946)
  • Winners of Rothmans Football International Tournament (Valletta, February 4 — February 10, 2000)[18]


World Cup record

  • 1930 to 1962 – Did not participate
  • 1966 – Did not qualify
  • 1970 – Entry not accepted[19]
  • 1974 – Did not qualify
  • 1978 – Did not participate
  • 1982 to 2010 – Did not qualify

UEFA European Championship record

Head-to-Head records against other countries

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 -1
 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 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0
 Cuba 1 0 1 0 0 0 =0
 Cyprus 2 1 0 1 7 3 +4
 Czech Republic 5 2 0 3 6 10 -4
 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 11 3 2 6 9 17 -8
 Germany 14 0 1 13 10 38 -28
 Greece 14 5 3 6 13 13 =0
 Hungary 5 0 1 4 0 18 -18
 Iceland 3 2 0 1 3 3 =0
 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 3 1 0 2 3 5 -2
 Luxembourg 5 3 1 1 7 2 +5
 Malta 7 4 2 1 12 3 +9
 Mexico 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4
 North Macedonia 8 1 3 4 4 10 -6
 Moldova 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4
 Netherlands 4 0 0 4 1 7 -6
 Northern Ireland 8 1 2 5 4 13 -9
 Norway 4 1 1 2 2 3 -1
 Poland 11 1 3 7 7 14 -7
 Portugal 5 0 1 4 4 12 -8
 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
 Scotland 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0
 Yugoslavia 5 0 1 4 4 13 -9
 Slovenia 5 0 2 3 1 5 -4
 Spain 5 0 0 5 2 24 -22
 Sweden 5 1 1 3 5 10 -5
  Switzerland 4 0 1 3 3 7 -4
 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
53 Countries 251 55 53 143 210 424 −214
  • Last updated: 15.11.2011 after the 0-0 away friendly match against FYR of Macedonia.

See also

References

  1. ^ FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
  2. ^ FIFA (20 Oktober 2010). "FIFA Coca Cola Ranking". Retrieved 15 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b FIFAAlbania. "Albania in FIFA website". FIFA. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Kirill (16 August 2010). "Albania matches". Kirill. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Kirill. "Eloratings.net". Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  6. ^ AFP. "Haan named Albania boss". FIFA. FIFA. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  7. ^ Albania suspension lifted by FIFA [dead link]
  8. ^ FIFA says its emergency committee has decided to lift suspension of Albania [dead link]
  9. ^ FIFA lifts suspension of Albania over alleged interference
  10. ^ "UEFA EURO 2012". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  11. ^ Spain among top draw seeds
  12. ^ National Team Coefficients Overview
  13. ^ Euro2012 Group D Qualifying Fixtures Template:Ro icon
  14. ^ FSHF. "The Team" (in Albanian). Albanian Federation of Football. Retrieved 16 August 2010. [dead link]
  15. ^ "Lukshinov: Enver Hoxha's passion of soccer (11/10/2009)". Albania-sport.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  16. ^ "Albania – Record International Players". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  17. ^ "Albania – Record International Players – Goals". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  18. ^ Malta 2000 Events [dead link]
  19. ^ "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 13 December 2011.

External links

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