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The '''Albania national football team''' is the national [[football (soccer)|football]] team of [[Albania]] and is controlled by the [[Football Association of Albania]]. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition.
The '''Albania national football team''' is the national [[football (soccer)|football]] team of [[Albania]] and is controlled by the [[Football Association of Albania]]. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition.


Although long considered one of the least strongest & passionate footballing sides in Europe, Albania have occasionally managed to hold their own against more illustrious opponents. In the [[1968 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying|1968 European Championship qualifiers]], they managed a 0-0 draw against [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]], which eventually eliminated West Germany from qualification. During that era, Albania boasted arguably its greatest ever footballer, [[Panajot Pano]].
Although not considered as one of the strongest footballing sides in Europe, Albania are passionate about there football an have occasionally managed to hold their own against more illustrious opponents. In the [[1968 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying|1968 European Championship qualifiers]], they managed a 0-0 draw against [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]], which eventually eliminated West Germany from qualification. During that era, Albania boasted arguably its greatest ever footballer, [[Panajot Pano]].


The [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification|1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]] brought further notable results with a 2-2 draw away to [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and a 3-1 win over eventual semi-finalists [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]].
The [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification|1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]] brought further notable results with a 2-2 draw away to [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and a 3-1 win over eventual semi-finalists [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]].

Revision as of 08:54, 23 June 2007

Albania
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Kuq-E-Zi
AssociationFootball Association of Albania
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachCroatia Otto Barić, 2006-
CaptainAltin Lala
Most capsFoto Strakosha (73)
Top scorerAlban Bushi (14)
Home stadiumQemal Stafa
FIFA codeALB
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current69
Highest34 (August 2003)
Lowest80 (August 1997)
First international
Albania Albania 2 - 3 Yugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(Tirana, Albania; October 7, 1946)
Biggest win
Albania Albania 8 - 0 Guam Guam
(Tirana, Albania January 23, 1994)
Albania Albania 8 - 0 Vietnam Vietnam
(Norcia, Italy; February 12, 2003)
Biggest defeat
Albania Albania 2 - 3 Hungary Hungary
(Tirana, Albania; September 24, 1950)

The Albania national football team is the national football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition.

Although not considered as one of the strongest footballing sides in Europe, Albania are passionate about there football an have occasionally managed to hold their own against more illustrious opponents. In the 1968 European Championship qualifiers, they managed a 0-0 draw against West Germany, which eventually eliminated West Germany from qualification. During that era, Albania boasted arguably its greatest ever footballer, Panajot Pano.

The 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers brought further notable results with a 2-2 draw away to Poland and a 3-1 win over eventual semi-finalists Belgium.

The qualifiers for the 1998 FIFA World Cup saw Albania forced to play some home games on neutral venues owing to civil unrest at home. However, they acheived a 4-1 win over Turkey. The 2004 European Championship and 2006 World Cup qualifiers have seen Albania's results improve markedly, including a 2-1 victory against European Champions Greece.

Famous players

Current squad

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Arjan Beqaj August 20 1975 23 0 Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta FC
1GK Samir Ujkani July 51988 0 0 Italy U.S. Città di Palermo
1GK Enea Koliqi February 13 1986 14 0 Greece Iraklis
1GK Isli Hidi October 15 1980 - - Albania SK Tirana
2DF Armend Dallku June 16 1983 16 0 Ukraine Vorskla Poltava
2DF Kristi Vangjeli May 19 1985 2 0 Greece Aris Thessaloniki
2DF Arjan Pisha January 18 1977 - - Albania SK Tirana
2DF Elvin Beqiri September 27 1980 34 0 Ukraine Metalurg Donetsk
2DF Nevil Dede January 10 1975 19 0 Albania SK Tirana
2DF Erion Xhafa May 31 1982 2 0 Albania Dinamo Tirana
2DF Ervin Bulku March 3 1981 3 0 Albania SK Tirana
2DF Debatik Curri December 28 1983 6 1 Ukraine Vorskla Poltava
3MF Altin Lala November 18 1975 56 3 Germany Hannover 96
3MF Devis Mukaj December 21 1976 34 0 Albania SK Tirana
3MF Altin Haxhi January 17 1975 59 2 Greece Ergotelis
3MF Klodian Duro March 3 1981 38 1 Albania SK Tirana
3MF Lorik Cana July 27 1983 23 1 France Olympique de Marseille
3MF Jahmir Hyka March 3 1988 1 0 Greece Olympiacos
4FW Besart Berisha July 29 1985 5 1 England Burnley FC
4FW Erion Bogdani April 14 1977 37 7 Italy Chievo Verona
4FW Hamdi Salihi January 19 1984 2 0 Austria SV Ried
4FW Edmond Kapllani July 31 1982 15 3 Germany Karlsruher SC
4FW Alban Bushi August 20 1973 60 14 Greece Apollon Kalamarias
4FW Xhevair Sukaj May 10 1987 0 0 Albania KS Vllaznia

Other players eligible for the national squad

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Ilion Lika May 17 1980 14 Albania Dinamo Tirana
1GK Elvis Kotorri July 04 1980 Albania Elbasani
2DF Adrian Aliaj September 24 1976 Croatia NK Solin
2DF Renaldo Rama Greece Olympiacos
2DF Tefik Osmani October 08 1985 Albania Elbasani
3MF Bledi Shkembi August 13 1979 Ukraine Metalurg Zaporozhye
3MF Mehmet Dragusha October 09 1977 Germany SV Elversberg
3MF Ervin Skela November 17 1976 Germany Energie Cottbus
4FW Florian Myrtaj September 19 1975 Italy Teramo Calcio
4FW Bekim Kastrati March 25 1979 Germany Eintracht Braunschweig
4FW Igli Tare July 25 1973 Italy S.S. Lazio

Notable Managers

World Cup record

  • 1930 to 1962 - Did not enter
  • 1966 - Did not qualify
  • 1970 - Entry not accepted by FIFA
  • 1974 - Did not qualify
  • 1978 - Did not enter
  • 1982 to 2006 - Did not qualify

European Championship record

Last Match

Luxembourg 0-3 Albania / Date: 06-June-2007 / Played for: EURO 2008 Qualifier / Score 0-3

Venue: Stade Josy Barthel, Route d'Arlon

Next Match

Albania Vs Netherlands / Date: 12 September 2007 / Playing For: EURO 2008 Qualifier / Score:

Venue: Qemal Stafa Stadium : Tirana, Albania

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