He plays in the same position as Mario Mitaj, who is Bujar Pllana; Silvinho's surprise guest for the World Cup mission

The Albanian national team will play the first match of the 2026 World Cup play-off against Poland on March 26, in Warsaw, starting at 8:45 p.m. If they qualify, the red and blacks will face the winner of the Sweden-Ukraine match on March 31.

Coach Silvinjo has released the list of 26 players for these crucial matches. Two newcomers stand out in this list: Stavro Pilo and Bujar Pllana, with the latter expected to be part of the team after his decision to join Albania.

Innovation in defense

Silvinjo has given an opportunity to left-back Bujar Pllana, who is currently part of AEK. The 25-year-old, born in Greece and originally from Delvina, has expressed his willingness and enthusiasm to represent the Albanian National Team.

He is considered an important alternative in the defensive department, where he competes for a place in the lineup with Mario Mitaj.

Bujar Pllanë's Profile

Bujar Pllana was born in Mitrovica and took his first steps in football in his hometown. In 2020, at the age of 18, he made his debut with KF Trepça '89, and then transferred to Feronikeli, where he stayed for about a year and a half, standing out with his performances.

His good form led him to join Prishtina in January 2022, where he played for a season and a half. His performances also attracted attention outside of Kosovo, leading Croatian club Slaven Belupo to sign him on a free transfer.

After a positive season in Croatia, in the summer of 2024, Pllana took another step in his career by signing with the Polish team Lekia Gdansk, a decision that proved key to his current invitation to the National Team.

From Kosovo to Albania

At the international level, Pllana has been active with Kosovo U-19 and U-21, recording a total of 7 matches. However, he never received an invitation to the Kosovo A team.

The 24-year-old defender is now part of the Albanian National Team and is expected to be a valuable option in the match against Poland, an opponent he knows well from his experience in the Polish championship.

bujar pllana i ftuari surprizë i silvinjos

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