FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The Albanian national team receives the attention of the prestigious "New York Times" media. Sports journalist Tim Spiers analyzed the Albanian team and talked with coach Silvinjo. What is the state of the team and the country's expectations in "EURO 2024". A difficult group, but a lot of enthusiasm.
Full reporting:
Albania will face big challenges in Group B of "EURO 2024", where they will face Italy, Spain and Croatia, but they can count on a strong defense and some former Premier League stars...
coach
Silvinho! Did you know he was a left back for Arsenal and Barcelona? Yes, he is the coach of Albania. Interesting, isn't it?
His playing days ended in 2010 after a brief spell at Manchester City, then he spent the better part of a decade working as a coach at Cruzeiro, Sport Recife and Nautico in Brazil, then as Roberto Mancini's assistant at Inter, and as an assistant to Tites with the Brazilian national team.
His first coaching experience came with Lyon in 2019. It didn't go too well; was relegated after 141 days in 14th place in Ligue 1 after nine league games.
This was followed by nine months in Brazil with Corinthians, whom he guided to fifth place (their best finish in four years), but was then sacked after three games into the post-season. So that didn't go too well either.
The next logical move in his career is, of course, the national team of Albania and this is where Silvinjo has found his success as a coach. He took charge at the start of the European qualifying campaign and guided the team to first place in Group E, beating the Czech Republic, Poland, Moldova and the Faroe Islands.
It was the first time Albania had topped a qualifying group and the second time they had qualified for a tournament (they also reached EURO 2016, where they beat Romania and held France until the 90th minute before succumbing with two late goals from tournament finalists).
Silvinho's record of five wins from 11 games gives him the highest winning percentage (45.5 percent) of any manager who has managed Albania for more than four games. For leading Albania towards Germany, Silvinho was awarded one of the country's highest honors, the Golden Decoration of the Eagle, which is awarded for bravery in armed conflict (not) or for acts of civilian courage in peacetime (for reasons of supposed?). He is the first foreigner to receive this decoration and since then he has also received Albanian citizenship. So it's going well.
Familiar name pending
A striker who failed to score in 15 appearances for Kisvarda in the Nemzeti Bajnoksag (Hungarian top flight) in 2022 may not be a 'household name in waiting', but wait a minute.
Yasir Asani has had a very good 18 months. In early 2023, he swapped Hungary for South Korea, joining Guangju, where he had a decent enough season, scoring seven goals in 30 games. Around the same time, Silvinjo was searching the world for an Albanian left winger who could be an attacking threat in his 4-3-3 formation.
Asani, born in Macedonia and a former player of the U-21 Albanian national team, then 27 years old, entered the scene, whom Silvinjo brought directly into his formation and gave him the first catch. Asani was involved in all qualifying matches, provided three assists and scored three goals.
As his career history suggests, Asani is volatile, but there's no doubt that he's also a prodigious talent capable of great moments. If given the opportunity to step inside with that powerful left foot he can cause havoc.
forces
A stout defense that allowed just four goals in qualifying, led by Atalanta's Europa League-winning captain Berat Gjimshiti.
There are several players who play in Italy in the Albanian squad, including Lazio right-back Elseid Hysaj, Inter central midfielder Kristjan Asllani and Sassuolo's Nedim Bajram, who is tasked with linking the midfield with the attack.
They also have some good goalkeepers and Silvinho has to decide between Brentford's deputy Tomas Strakosha and Empoli's 35-year-old Etrit Berisha (the Brazilian has split their appearances almost equally; six for Strakosha and five for Berisha).
What Albania has in its favor is the lack of expectations, especially since it is included in a difficult group together with Italy, Spain and Croatia. Nobody expects anything and, to be honest, Albania is the "must-win" game for the other three national teams.
With that comes an underdog mentality and, through some of their undoubtedly talented players, they could spring a few surprises. They took four points from the Czech Republic in qualifying (including a 3-0 home win) and beat Poland 2-0 in Tirana. Underestimate them at your peril.
Weaknesses
Goals are a problem. Albania scored just 12 goals in qualifying, two short of the lowest figure by a group winner (Turkey), and Silvinho has been utterly ruthless in his response, giving up the two main strikers who helped Albania reach Germany .
Konyaspor striker Sokol Cikalleshi, Albania's third best scorer with 13 goals, was not included in the 26. He started seven of the eight qualifying matches as the main striker (scoring just once) and was angrily withdrawn the day after coach Silvinho announced the squad.
Also left out was Myrto Uzuni, who scored 11 goals for relegated Granada this season.
In their place, the scoring burden may fall on Chelsea striker Armando Broja, but he has not found the back of the net for Albania in two years due to injuries and poor form. He did not score a goal while on loan at Fulham in eight Championship appearances last season and, under Silvinho, has played just 99 minutes in two friendlies.
Rei Manaj did not play in the qualifiers, but the striker, who has played for Inter, Barcelona and Watford, was the third top scorer in the Turkish Super League last season, with 18 goals for Sivasspor.
Things you don't know
Yes, listen to this — not only is Silvinjo the manager of Albania, but Manchester City's Premier League winner Pablo Zabaleta is his assistant and former Middlesbrough midfielder Doriva also part of his coaching staff.
And Silvinjo is not the first high-profile player to take charge of Albania. In recent years, they have also had the confidence of former Milan, Real Madrid and Roma defender Christian Panucci and former Ajax and Netherlands midfielder Ari Han.
Expectations at home
Albania are ranked 66th in the world, the second-lowest country in the tournament behind only Georgia, so fans back home know they shouldn't expect too much, but they will be hoping for something special. Any victory would be the biggest day in the history of Albanian football.
Silvinho is rightly trying to play down the expectation, considering the tough group they have for the knockout stage prospects.
" Under pressure? No, we're not, " he said. "Our opponents do not play to pass the group, but to win the European Championship" .
" We go there to show our faith in each other and the heart and soul of the team. This is what we have to show ."
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